Last week, Geraint Lewis selected 7 players from the Dragons region in the Wales U18 squad for their three match tour to South Africa. The Welsh side will play South Africa Schools, Italy and South Africa Schools A in a gruelling tour designed to expose young Welsh players to different styles of play, and to prepare them for U20 international rugby next season.
The Dragons contingent, representing over a quarter of the squad, consists of players from across the region and shows the strength of mini and junior clubs in Gwent. Many fans will be familiar with Jarred Rosser of Ebbw Vale RFC, who recently represented Wales u20 in this year's Junior Rugby World Cup, but the squad also includes Joe Goodchild and Christian Coleman (both Garndiffaith RFC), Joe Thomas (Penalta RFC), Owain Leonard (Abergavenny RFC), Max Williams (Newport High) and Will Talbot Davies who is based in Solihull.
5 of the region's contingent combine their studies and further rugby development at Newport High School or Coleg Gwent, two of the region's rugby centres of excellence.
We at DOSC wish the young men of Gwent, and the whole squad, all the very best for their tour.
Wales U18 Tour Itinerary
Fri 12 August 4pm South Africa Schools v Wales (City Park Stadium, Crawford)
Tues 16 August 1pm Wales v Italy (Bishops Diocesan College, Rondebosch)
Sat 20 August 4pm South Africa Schools A v Wales (Paarl Boys High, Paarl)
Highlights from all three Wales U18 games will be shown on S4C as follows:
12, 16 and 20 August 9.30pm, S4C.
Wales u18 Squad
Backs:
Jared Rosser (Dragons/ Ebbw Vale/ Newport High School), Will Talbot Davies (Dragons / Solihull), Corey Baldwin (Scarlets/ Llandovery College), Joe Goodchild (Dragons/ Coleg Gwent/ Garndiffaith), Ryan Conbeer (Scarlets/ Sir Gar), Ben Thomas (Blues/ Cardiff & Vale Coll, St Peters), Dylan Moss (Ospreys/ Wellington College), Cameron Lewis (Blues/ Wattstown/ Cymoedd), Ben Jones (Blues/ Treharris/ Cymoedd), Phil Jones (Ospreys/ Gowerton/ Gowerton), Owain Leonard (Dragons/ Abergavenny / Gwynlliw), Dane Blacker (Blues/Cymoedd / Pontypridd);
Forwards:
Rhys Carre (Blues/ Cardiff/ Cowbridge), Connor Lewis (Blues/ Beddau/ Cymoedd), Harri Dobbs (Blues/ Cowbridge/ St Peters ), Tom Mably (Blues/ St Peter's, Cymoedd), Jordan Liney (Ospreys/ Dunvant/ Hartbury), Corrie Tarrant (Blues/ Pontypridd/ Cymoedd), Christian Coleman (Dragons / Garndiffaith/ Newport High), Callum Bradbury (Blues/ Beddau/ Cymoedd), Will Griffiths (Ospreys/ Gowerton/ Gowerton), James Ratti (Ospreys/Aberavon/Gower), Max Williams (Dragons/ Newport High), Will Jones (Ospreys/ Penclawdd/ Gower), James Botham (Blues/ Sedburgh School), Joe Thomas (Dragons / Penallta / Coleg Gwent), Morgan Morris (Gloucester / Hartpury College)