Scarlets flanker Jac Cloke has been named captain of the Wales U18s side for their clash with France in the second round of games in this year’s Six Nations festival in Vichy, France (15:15 KO).
The back-rower, who plays his club rugby for Amman Utd RFC and is a student at Coleg Sir Gar, is one of six Scarlets named in Richie Pugh’s match-day squad that will be looking to build on their opening win over Scotland.
Openside Jac is joined in the starting line-up by fly-half Madoc Evans, hooker Cole Lacey and second row Harvey Thomas, with scrum-half Alfie Luger and back-rower Rhys Owen among the replacements.
“The boys showed good game understanding when they came under a lot of pressure against Scotland,’ reflected Pugh, before adding, “there was a good bit of grit shown in the second half when we were under a lot of pressure to stop Scotland from scoring, so it was pleasing they got the result they deserved.
“Playing France in France, boys don’t get that many opportunities to do that across their career, so it is great to experience that.
“We know it is a strong, dangerous French side. Georgia did cause them problems at times when they played the other day, but the focus is on us.
“We’re making changes across the team to freshen up the group and we’re ready to go. They are quick turnarounds here – our big focus is on us but being fully aware of what France are going to want to do and what fires them up in terms of their looseness and how they move the ball with their off-load game.
“We’ve got to play our game and minimise the French threat.”
Wales U18 v France U18
Stade Municipal Louis Darragon, Vichy | 07.04.26 | KO 15.15
15 Dylan Quin (Gower College, Ospreys); 14 Jac Williams (Llandrillo, RGC), 13 Harry Kinsey (Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby), 12 Will Adams (Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby), 11 Harvey Bryant (Cardiff & Vale/ Cardiff Rugby); 10 Madoc Evans (Preseli, Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets), 9 George Thomas (Coleg y Cymoedd, Cardiff Rugby); 1 Logan Goodluck (St Davids, College, Llandrillo, RGC), 2 Cole Lacey (Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets), 3 Sam Bryant (Hartpury College, Gloucester), 4 Harvey Thomas (Llandovery College, Scarlets), 5 William Carroll (Bridgend College, Ospreys), 6 Will Watkins (Y Pant, Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby), 7 Jac Cloke (Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets; capt), 8 Mosese Tuliakiono (Radley College, Gloucester)
FINISHERS – 16 Tiaan Hall (Coleg Gwent, Dragons RFC), 17 Bryan Kamanga (Llandovery College, Cardiff Rugby), 18 Isaac Jones (Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby), 19 Harri Lewis (Llandovery College, Cardiff Rugby), 20 Alfie Prygodzicz (Ysgol Glantfaf, Cardiff Rugby), 21 Alfie Luger (Llandovery College, Scarlets), 22 Will Ford (St Cenydd, Dragons RFC), 23 Owen Lewis (Coleg y Cymoedd, Cardiff Rugby), 24 Ryley Fussell (Coleg y Cymoedd, Dragons), 25 Sam Morgan (St Cenydd, Coleg Gwent, Dragons RFC), 26 Rhys Owen (Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets)
