The side will play two training matches against the English and French Academies and two international matches against England and Scotland over the next two months before the U18 Six Nations festival takes place in Cork at Easter where Wales will play Ireland, France and Italy.
WRU Audio: Listen to interview with Simon King
King said, “Thanks to a very competitive Reebok Regional competition, we have some welcome selection headaches before we announce a final squad ahead of our first training game against an English Academies side at Pontypridd (Sunday 27th January).
“One of our main objectives is to prepare players to make the next step in their rugby development and so it is hugely encouraging to see so many players from last season’s U18 squad in the Wales U20 Six Nations squad announced today. It is indicative of the work being done.”
The Wales U18 training squad will now train together twice weekly throughout January.
Wales U18 Team Manager Terry Cobner said, “We have a lot of strength in depth in the squad this season, but you can never be certain how teams will gel until they take the field.
“We are not only looking for playing talent over the next month, but leadership qualities as we will be looking for players to put their hands up for the captaincy.”
Wales U18 training squad
Fullbacks: Chris Lewis (Ospreys), James Loxton (Blues)
Wings: Ryan Bayliss, Liam Powell (both Ospreys), Adam Hughes, Ieuan Coombes (both Dragons)
Centres: Kristian Phillips, Ashley Beck (both Ospreys), Scott Williams, Daniel Etteridge (both Scarlets), Rhys Howells (Dragons / Exiles)
Outside halfs: Ian Smerdon (Blues), Matthew Jarvis (Ospreys), Chris Lewis-Pratt (Dragons / Exiles)
Scrum halfs: Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Downes (Blues), Tavis Knoyle (Ospreys)
Props: Stewart Maguire (Dragons), Dan Watchurst (Dragons / Exiles), Gareth Jenkins, Joe Rees (both Ospreys), Simon Gardiner, Trystan Davies (both Scarlets)
Hookers: Ceri Davies (Ospreys), Rhys Williams (Blues), Craig Attwell (Dragons)
Locks: Joel Galley, James King, Henry Boot (all Scarlets), Tom Crandon (Dragons), Lloyd Peers (Ospreys)
Flankers: Rhys Ruddock, Ben Howe (both Ospreys), Morgan Allan, Rhys Jenkins (both Dragons)
No.8s: James Thomas (Dragons), David Francis (Dragons / Exiles)
Wales U18 fixtures 2008
Sunday 27 January: Pontypridd, Wales XV v English Academies
Sunday 24 February: Ebbw Vale, Wales XV v French Academies
Sunday 2 March: Bristol, England v Wales
Sunday 16 March: Ebbw Vale, Wales v Scotland
March 26 – April 2: Cork, U18 Six Nations Festival
