Dragons Under-18s have named their first side for this seasons Academy U18 championships, beginning this weekend.
Led by captain Tiaan Hall, the young Men of Gwent begin their campaign in the capital against Cardiff on Sunday with a mix of familiar faces from last season and some new talent.
Eleven of the 23 selected to face Cardiff played during last year’s competition, meaning there’s a great balance throughout the side.
“The thing with the Under-18s, obviously, boys stepped up into the Academy and then there's a really good young cohort come through,” said Academy Coach Ceri Jones.
“A few of the boys have had that experience of going away with Wales last week and they're the real leaders amongst the group, people like Tiaan Hall for example has led incredibly well within the group, so it's exciting for them, but it’s as exciting as the young talent coming through.
“We’ve got some really young players, some who are two years below in Jake Leighton and Troy Raymond for example, and they're doing incredibly well, so it's going to be a really exciting group and I can't wait to see them play.
“For us, it was about building connections first and foremost, that was our first block. Second block was about committing to each other, and now it’s competition time.”
For players like Hall, the Under-U18s is a commitment of training three times a week as they prepare for this first Academy U18s block.
“Monday, Wednesday, Friday are our big training days,” said Hall. “Monday and Wednesday are usually our big days, especially on game week.
“We'll have the meetings at the start of the day, then into some units, so forwards and backs split into a gym session, and then into our big team session at the end of the session.
“It can be quite tasty at times, really competitive as well and the boys are looking really sharp.”
Jones added: “If they want to go into this job, then it is a huge commitment, first and foremost.”
“Secondly we're looking for the attitude, if the attitude is right, then everything else comes to it.
“That commitment, how profession they can be? Are they on time for all the meetings and appointments they need to? How they take on information, how they're able to put that information onto the field.
“Thirdly, it's just about, rugby wise. It’s the Gwent way for us, we want players who are going to outwork anyone else.
“We want players who are going to be more physical than anyone else. I think that's always been in our DNA as far as I've been involved with the region, which is quite a long time now because there’re a few less hairs on my head now.”
THE TEAM ITSELF
In terms of the team for the block opener, Sam Morgan is one of the returning faces and he starts at full back alongside wings Danny Hutchinson and Theo McKerrow, fresh from being one of eight Dragons that were part of Wales U18s recent development camp.
Another who was part of that camp is centre Ryley Fussell, who returns along with Tegwyn Mahoney having played during last year’s RAG block, meanwhile Elliot Young partners Jake Jenkins at half back.
Up front, Rudi Creel is at loosehead, alongside Wales U18s development camp members Hall and Scott Crewe, forming a formidable front row, with Elliot Beavan and Dylan Pennell in the boiler house.
Back row sees Gethin Clarke line up at blindside flanker alongside Jake Leighton and Jake Sheppard to round out the XV who start.
Ready to make an impact from the replacements bench are Benson Ngoshi, Ciaran Beavis, Freddie Hicks, Troy Raymond, Hadley Worgan, Felix Preece-Jones, Ellis Anderson and Brogan Leary.
“It’s a massive opportunity for me personally, having been in the set up last year as one of the young ones, coming into this year and taking on a leadership role is a massive honour for me,” said Hall.
“We’re looking sharp in training and really looking forward to Sunday and then the rest of the block.
“I’m hoping to grow in my leadership, I think this is my first captaincy role in my career so far, so I'm really looking forward to it.
“Just learning, week by week, growing my leadership and my all-round game as well, set-piece, around the field, just getting better week on week, just growing as a player, really.”
“The boys have been training really hard now, all through the summer,” added Jones.
“What I've seen from this group is there's a huge man of commitment, there's a huge amount of desire to play well and to put the Dragons foot forward and represent Gwent as well as they possibly can.
“It’s really nice to be the first team for this season to go out, especially down in the capital and in a derby. So yeah, it's exciting and we'd love to see anyone down there would like to come over and watch.”
Dragons Under-18s: Sam Morgan; Danny Hutchinson, Ryley Fussell, Tegwyn Mahoney, Theo McKerrow; Elliot Young, Jake Jenkins; Rudi Creel, Tiaan Hall, Scott Crewe, Elliot Beavan, Dylan Pennell, Gethin Clarke, Jake Leighton, Jake Sheppard.
Replacements: Benson Ngoshi, Ciaran Beavis, Freddie Hicks, Troy Raymond, Hadley Worgan, Felix Preece-Jones, Ellis Anderson, Brogan Leary.
What I've seen from this group is there's a huge man of commitment, there's a huge amount of desire to play well and to put the Dragons foot forward and represent Gwent as well as they possibly can...
