photo by Ian Lovell

Wales under 18s are looking to extended their fine run of form as they take on France Juniors at Carmarthen Athletic RFC this Sunday (kick-off 2pm).

The match is the first of two junior internationals in South Wales this week with the French staying in the area and taking on Great Britain at Blackwood RFC on Wednesday evening.

Wales go into the match in a confident mood following their outstanding display in Leeds two weeks ago when they outclassed an England side 28-14 excelling in both attack and defence.

They have already named their 17 and have made just three changes from the side that beat England with Harlequins duo Jack Molloy and Gerrard Ellis and Crusaders’ Jack Pring being the new additions to the side.

As expected, the majority of the Welsh players have been drawn from the Crusaders while there are two representatives from the new South Wales Scorpions side that kick-off on Sunday 21st February with a home match against Wigan Warriors.

Likewise, France’s squad is dominated by players who are on the books of UTC, or Union Trieze Catalans, to give them their full name, the main feeder side to Super League outfit Catalans Dragons. However eight other clubs are represented in France’s 21-man travelling squad, including four from Lezignan where they

play and train alongside former Crusaders Tony Duggan, Damien Quinn and Aurelien Cologni.

France and Wales last met at under 18 level in September 2008 in the European Cup Final in Prague, a game that Wales won 38-24 to take the European crown.

Sunday’s match will be preceded by an under 16 encounter between local side Dinefwr Sharks and St Albans Centurions, which kicks off at 12.30pm, while following the international, St Albans senior side goes up against South Wales Thunder, a representative Welsh amateur side, selected from players from the Welsh Conference Premier.

Wales: Rhys Evans (Warrington Wolves), Dan Godwin (Crusaders), Loren Quick (South Wales Scorpions), Owen Williams (Crusaders), Jack Pring (Crusaders), Dafydd Carter (Crusaders), Dale Evans (Crusaders), Ben Evans (Warrington Wolves), Kyle Blackmore (Crusaders), Adam Davies (Crusaders), Dale Blackmore (Rhyl Coasters), Rhodri Lloyd (Crusaders), Lewis Reece (South Wales Scorpions), Jack Molloy (Harlequins), Owain Griffiths (Leeds Met), Nathan Hawkins (Crusaders), Gerrard Ellis (Harlequins).

France (from): Lilian Albet (Villeneuve), Noel Andreuccett (RCC Carpentras), Andrew Bigat (FC Lezignan), Theo Bonneriez (UTC), Pierre Louis Bourrel (Limoux), Julian Bousquet (FC Lezignan), Damien Cardace (FC Lezignan) Anthony Deleigne (FC Lezignan), Morgan Escare (UTC), Julien Laffite (UTC), Alexis Falip (ETC), Lenny Foncillas (UTC), Nicolas Houbloup (AS Corbeil Essonnes), Thibault Margalet (UTC), Guillaume Martinez (UTC), Marc Meye (Pia), Joseph Negre (UTC), Eloi Pelissier (UTC), Clement Soubeyras (RCC Carpentras), Remi Vignau (Toulouse).

article by Ian Golden
11 February 2010