Dragons U18s host Ospreys this Sunday searching for their first win of this years’ Academy U18s championship following a heartbreaking loss at Cardiff two weeks ago.
The young Men of Gwent produced a thrilling comeback to nearly snatch victory at the Arms Park in their season opener but will hope to carry that momentum into this weekend’s fixture at the Centre of Sporting Excellence Ystrad Mynach.
Dragons’ players will be buoyed further after several of those selected this weekend shone for Dragons U17s in their 12-try victory at CSE Ystrad Mynach against Scarlets a week ago.
Hat-trick hero from that win Ottis Mighten, is one of those selected in the starting XV this weekend, along with U17s captain Gethin Tudball plus try scorers Ellis Anderson and Troy Raymond.
In total there are 10 changes to the side which faced Cardiff with try scorers Theo McKerrow, Jake Jenkins and Rudi Creel remaining in the XV, along with captain Tiaan Hall and Elliot Beavan.
Anderson, Mighten and McKerrow will offer an exciting back three, hailing from Penallta, Caerleon and Caldicot respectively, meanwhile there is a new centre combination in Caerphilly RFC’s Jack Cordy and Pontypool Utd’s Charlie Gregory.
Abercarn’s Kai Kinsey will look to pull the strings from 10 as he partners Coleg Gwent’s Jake Jenkins at half-back.
The front row sees Creel, scorer of a magnificent solo effort against Cardiff, return with captain Hall of Risca RFC, while Newport High’s Ciaran Beavis starts at tighthead.
Second row sees Cwmbran’s Beavan joined by Jake Sheppard, meanwhile Hadley Worgan of Dean Close School joins Coleg y Cymoedd’s Tudball and Caerleon Comprehensive’s Raymond in the back row.
On the replacements bench is Bedwas’ Harrison Flowers, another U17s try scorer, along with Benson Ngoshi and Scott Crewe, plus Ebbw Vale’s Ashton Swain and Gethin Clarke of NHSOB.
Felix Preece-Jones along with Liam Lawlor of Caerphilly RFC and Senghenydd RFC’s Ryley Fussell round out the replacements.
Academy coach Adam Thomas said: “I don’t think anyone was pleased with it [the first half v Cardiff], but to be fair, the boys showed some great character, towards the end of the first half and going into that second half."
“It's under-18s rugby now, it's a step up. Towards the end of the game, momentum was with us so I think it's important we hold on to that.
“Now it's a great opportunity for boys to play at home, first home game of the competition.
“We try and play a nice brand of rugby, just from my attacking philosophies and the way I coach, I love to throw a ball about, so it’ll definitely be a good game.”
Centre Charlie Gregory added: "The boys are just excited to get another opportunity because they were a bit heartbroken about the Cardiff result.”
“We're just excited to get into them, show what the Gwent region’s actually about, show the physicality and everything and then just go straight into them with all we’ve got.
”I know all my family's coming and all the boys' families are coming down.
“It’ll just be a good occasion for all the boys. Getting noticed that they're putting in the hard work by everyone else, not just the coaches down here."
Dragons U18s: Ellis Anderson; Ottis Mighten, Jack Cordy, Charlie Gregory, Theo McKerrow; Kai Kinsey, Jake Jenkins; Rudi Creel, Tiaan Hall (cap.), Ciaran Beavis, Jake Sheppard, Elliot Beavan, Gethin Tudball, Hadley Worgan, Troy Raymond.
Replacements: Benson Ngoshi, Harrison Flowers, Scott Crewe, Ashton Swain, Gethin Clarke, Felix Preece-Jones, Liam Lawlor, Ryley Fussell.
We're just excited to get into them, show what the Gwent region’s actually about, show the physicality and everything and then just go straight into them with all we’ve got.
