James Chapron’s side travel to Oxford tomorrow night fielding a side packed full of Principality Premiership experience. Swansea’s Andrew Claypole, Bedwas’ Lewis Hudd and Jack Maynard of Cardiff have been regulars for their clubs this season while outside centre James Cordy-Reddan has been training with Wales Sevens as well as impressing for Cross Keys.
In the pack, Ravens front rower George leads the side with another Bedwas man, James Sawyer, at openside flanker.
“This is a good opportunity for a number of boys to impress,” said Wales Students head coach Chapron.
“The boys have trained hard in the run up to this game and working against the Wales Under 20 side has been a real benefit to us. We’re looking forward to travelling to Oxford and I’m pleased with the side we have available.
“There are plenty of players who have experience at Premiership level and a number of promising young options too. You always look forward to games between Wales and England and this Friday is no different.”
Skipper for the evening George added: “It’s our first game and we’re really looking forward to it. It’s a big achievement for me to lead the boys out against England – to captain Wales at any level is massive and hopefully we can take a scalp on Friday night.
“We’ve been building week on week in training and had a good session against the Wales Under 20 side on Tuesday. England are a bit of an unknown quantity but we’ve seen some clips of them playing France and they look like a big, physical team so we’re going to have to run them around the field.
“Many of the team haven’t played at this level before so it’s going to be a big first experience. A win would be huge and it would stay with us for a long time.”
Wales Students side to face England: (Friday, Iffley Road, Oxford. Kick off 7.30pm)
15 Owen Thomas (Cardiff Metropolitan University) 14 Andrew Claypole (Swansea University/Swansea) 13 James Cordy-Redden (University of West England/Cross Keys) 12 Joe Gatt (Loughborough University/Tondu) 11 Lewis Hudd (Cardiff Metropolitan University/ Newport Gwent Dragons Academy) 10 Jack Maynard (Cardiff Metropolitan University/Cardiff Blues Academy) 9 Josh Guy (Swansea University/Pontypool), 1 Tom Kijacks (Swansea University/Carmarthen Athletic) 2 Greg George (Cardiff University/Bridgend CAPT)3 Ian Williams (Oxford University) 4 Henri Williams (Loughborough University) 5 Dan Lewis (University of West England/Abercwmboi) 6 Jamie Harries (Cardiff Metropolitan University) 7 James Sawyer (Cardiff University/Bedwas) 8 Jarad Williams (Leeds Metropolitan University/ Leeds Carnigie).
Replacements: Sam Fisher (Loughborough University), Mike Perks (Bath University), Sean McDonald-Roberts (Swansea University/Llangennech), Ashton Evans (Loughborough University/Tondu), Rory Robinson (Loughborough University), Joel Raikes (University of South Wales/Ynysybwl RFC/ Pontypridd), Jake Lloyd (Nottingham University), Sam Evans (Swansea Metropolitan University/Gorseinon).
