Richie Pugh has rung the changes in his Wales U18 side for their final run out ahead of the Six Nations Festival against Italy in L’Aquila on Saturday 29 March - with seven Dragons named in the match day squad.
Noah Morgan, Brogan Leary, Tiehi Chatham and Cerrig Smith all start while Tiian Hall, Carter Pritchard and Rhys Cole are named among the replacements.
Having beaten Scotland 33-17 in Newcastle last weekend Pugh has made eight changes, once positional, to that side for another capped international. Next week he will pick his Six Nations Festival squad to play in Vichy next month.
“We’ve made a few changes and we’re taking a larger squad, 26 players, to Italy. We want to try out different combinations and we’ve also picked up a few injuries,” said Pugh.
“It’s a capped game again and this gives everyone a chance to put up their hands for selection for the Six Nations Festival in Vichy. The win over Scotland was a great starting point for us.
“I was pleased with a lot of elements of our game, and we managed the pressure areas pretty well. We’ve worked hard to rectify our defence of the driving line out having conceded three tries in that phase to the Scots.
“The Italians have been very strong at this age level for a number of years. We know it’s going to be physical, and it will be another great test for us.”
Rhys Cummings, who scored two tries on the wing in Newcastle, switches to full back in a back division that see centres Jack Harrison and Jack Hoskings continue in the midfield and Carwyn Leggatt-Jones once again selected at No 10.
Up front, the survivors are hooker Tom Howe and tight head prop Jayden Maybank, while Alfie Prygodzicz and skipper Cerrig Smith are given another start in the back row.
Hooker Logan Lloyd, lock Gabe Williams, flanker Tiehi Chatham, scrum half Luca Woodyatt amd wing Brogan Leary all move up from the bench into the starting XV, while wing Rhys Cole, scrum half Carter Pritchard, prop Dylan Barratt, lock Osian Williams and flanker Morgan Crew all drop down to the replacements bench.
The newcomers to the starting XV at Dragons wing Noah Morgan and Bristol Bears prop George Leyland. The latter was included in the England U18 development squads last year and in the earlier part of this season.
Noah Williams is another newcomer among the replacements, along with Tiian Hall, Nathan Davies and Bailey Cutts.
The game at the Tommaso Fattori Stadium in L’Aquila kicks-off at 1.15pm and the game is being streamed live on both the Rugby L’Aquila Facebook page and Rugby L’Aquila Youtube channel.
Wales U18: Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby); Noah Morgan (Dragons RFC), Jack Harrison (Bath), Jack Hoskins (Ospreys), Brogan Leary (Dragons RFC), Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), Luca Woodyatt (Gloucester); George Leyland (Bristol Bears), Logan Lloyd (Ospreys), Jayden Maybank (Ospreys), Kai Jones (Scarlets), Gabe Williams (Cardiff Rugby), Tiehi Chatham (Dragons RFC), Alfie Prygodzicz (Cardiff Rugby), Cerrig Smith (Dragons RFC, captain)
Replacements: Tiian Hall (Dragons RFC), Dylan Barratt (Cardiff Rugby), Nathan Davies (Scarlets), Osian Williams (Bristol Bears), Morgan Crew (Yorkshire), Carter Pritchard (Dragons RFC), Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby), Rhys Cole (Dragons RFC), Ben Coomer (Cardiff Rugby), Bailey Cutts (Cardiff Rugby), Noah Williams (Bristol Bears)
It’s a capped game again and this gives everyone a chance to put up their hands for selection for the Six Nations Festival in Vichy. The win over Scotland was a great starting point for us...
