Ireland U21 V Wales U21

Welsh Rugby Union | Club & Community Published 9:30 am 30th Jan 2002 post

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Centre Matthew Brayley of Swansea and flanker Rhys Williams of Ebbw Vale are the duo, but at half back is an exciting pairing of Gavin Henson (Swansea) and Andrew Williams (Bath).
With no meeting against Ireland last season due to the foot and mouth epidemic, Wales lead by five wins to four in their previous nine meetings, while in all under-21 matches in the Northern Hemisphere, Wales have won 34 and lost only 10 times.
Backs Gareth Swales, the South African-born Hal Luscombe and Brayley along with lock Griffiths all played in the under-21 A side that drew with England A at Pontypridd in December.
Several of the side have already played in National League rugby, but the most interesting selections are the complete Neath under-21 trio in the front row with the highly-rated hooker Adam Matthews having Paul James and Adam Jones as his props.

Wales under-21: Gareth Swales (Swansea); Liam Roberts (Cardiff), Matthew Brayley (Swansea), Hal Luscombe (Newport), Nicky Jones (UWIC); Gavin Henson (Swansea), Andrew Williams (Bath); Paul James (Neath), Adam Matthews (Neath), Adam Jones (Neath), Alex Davidson (Gloucester & Hartbury Coll)
Bryn Griffiths (Llanelli), Rhys Williams (Ebbw Vale), Gareth Williams (Llanelli), Rhys Jones (UWIC). Replacements: Matthew Miles
(Northampton), Ceiron Jones (Llanelli), Phil John (Llanelli), Damian Hudd (Ebbw Vale)Aled Gravell (Llanelli), Michael Phillips (Llanelli), Nicky Robinson (Cardiff).

Previous meetings.
1991. Wales won 22-15 (at Newport).
1992. Ireland won 22-11 (at Donnybrook).
1993. No match.
1994. Wales won 27-5 (at Carlow).
1995. Wales won 16-9 (at Glamorgan Wanderers).
1996. Ireland won 20-12 (at Wicklow).
1997. Wales won 44-16 (at Bridgend.
1998. Ireland won 27-25 (at Donnybrook).
1999. Wales won 24-18 (at Caerphilly).
2000. Ireland won 35-17 (at Limerick).
2001. No match.