Five Scarlets have been named in the Wales Under-18s side to take on Italy at Ystrad Mynach on Saturday (KO 1pm).
Tenby scrum-half Alfie Luger (pictured above) gets the nod at scrum-half, while half-back partner Madoc Evans – who has been training with the Scarlets senior squad in recent weeks – flanker Jac Cloke, hooker Cole Lacey and back-five forward Harvey Thomas are among the replacements in a 26-strong squad.
Cardiff back-rower Alfie Prygodzicz will captain the side.
Fly-half Madoc Evans has been training with the Scarlets senior squad
“We’ve had good preparations with training camps,” explained head coach Richie Pugh. “We had a residential camp in Llandovery College over half-term and have had two weekends of training since. It’s been a strong competitive squad, and it was a tough selection, with lots of players worthy of winning their first cap, so we’re excited about what this group can go and do.
“We’re looking ahead to the Six Nations Festival – we’ve picked 26 players and got some boys that will likely come into it in the second week against Ireland as well because there are boys training well that we want to see
“Ultimately this game is a first opportunity to represent Wales – hopefully, they can showcase their form that they have shown in the regional game and transfer it as a collective for Wales.
“We’re excited to see how they perform – hopefully they have taken on board the information and principles we’ve laid into them in training – it’s always exciting to see the opportunity and it’s nice it’s a home fixture as well up at Ystrad Mynach before the senior team and U20s on Sunday so it’s a packed weekend of three Italian fixtures.”
Wales U18 v Italy U18 (Saturday, March 14, Ystrad Mynach, KO 1pm)
15 Sam Morgan (St Cenydd, Coleg Gwent, Dragons RFC); 14 Dylan Quin (Gower College, Ospreys), 13 Ethan Bolch (Ospreys), 12 Will Adams (Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby), 11 Harvey Bryant (Cardiff & Vale College, Cardiff Rugby); 10 Will Ford (St Cenydd, Dragons RFC), 9 Alfie Luger (Llandovery College, Scarlets); 1 Bryan Kamanga (Llandovery College, Cardiff Rugby), 2 Tiaan Hall (Coleg Gwent, Dragons RFC), 3 Isaac Jones (Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby), 4 William Carroll (Bridgend College, Ospreys), 5 Harri Lewis (Llandovery College, Cardiff Rugby), 6 Will Watkins (Y Pant/Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby), 7 Alfie Prygodzicz (Ysgol Glantfaf, Cardiff Rugby), 8 Mosese Tuliakiono (Radley College, Gloucester).
Replacements: 16 Cole Lacey (Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets), 17 Logan Goodluck (St Davids, College, Llandrillo, RGC), 18 Sam Bryant (Hartpury College, Gloucester), 19 Harvey Thomas (Llandovery College, Scarlets), 20 Jac Cloke (Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets), 26 Ioan Dacey (Coleg y Cymoedd, Cardiff Rugby), 21 George Thomas (Coleg y Cymoedd, Cardiff Rugby), 22 Madoc Evans (Preseli, Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets), 23 Owen Lewis (Coleg y Cymoedd, Cardiff Rugby), 24 Ryley Fussell (Coleg y Cymoedd, Dragons), 25 Harry Kinsey (Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby).