Wales U20 and Wales Women both finished their Six Nations Championship in second place behind England, while Wales U16 returned home unbeaten this week from the Four Nations Tournament in France, notching wins over England U16, France U17 and Italy U17.
Wales U18 kicked-off the U18 Six Nations festival with a resounding win over hosts Ireland on Wednesday, with Head Coach Simon King admitting that his players were inspired by Ryan Jones’s side’s recent Triple Crown win at Croke Park.
He said: “Our players are fully aware of the success of our other international sides this season, and the national side’s great win in Ireland earlier this month was a great source of inspiration.
“Some of these young players will be our international players of the future and to perform well against a strong Irish side at a hostile Musgrave Park was a terrific learning curve and the players showed great maturity.”
King has made nine changes for tomorrow’s clash with Italy at Mardyke (2.30pm), meaning that only one squad player is yet to start. Outstanding Scarlets prop Simon Gardner has missed out through injury but is on the bench for tomorrow and set to start in the side’s final match against France on Tuesday.
“It is vital to develop players in this environment, to see what they are capable of for the future. We are able to use all our squad players in every match, so 10 players came on against Ireland and we are confident that having blooded almost every player already, they will step up to the plate and perform well against Italy.”
North Wales lock Joel Galley suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury against Ireland, while Ospreys centre Ben John picked up an ankle injury and is also forced to sit out this game.
Wales U18 v Italy U18 – Saturday March 28th, Mardyke, Cork – 2.30pm
Wales U18: James Loxton (Blues); Liam Powell (Exiles), Scott Williams, Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Adam Hughes (Dragons); Chris Lewis Pratt (Exiles), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Gareth Jenkins (Ospreys), Ceri Davies (Ospreys), Stewart Maguire (Dragons), Lloyd Peers (Ospreys), James King (Scarlets), Morgan Allan (Ospreys), James Davies (Scarlets), James Thomas (Dragons, Captain)
Replacements: Ieuan Coombes (Dragons), Matthew Jarvis (Ospreys), Rhys Downes (Blues), Daniel Watchurst (Dragons), Rhys Williams (Blues), Tom Crandon (Dragons), Dave Francis (Dragons), Rhys Jenkins (Dragons)
Italy U18: Michele Mortali (Gran Parma Rugby); Sebastian Rodwell (Firenze), Ricciardi Costantino (Petrarca), Tommaso Benvenuti (Viadana), Nicola Belardo (Partenope); Fillippo Michelini (Viadana), Alberto Chillon (Petrarca); Matteo Zamparo (Amatori San Dona), Andrea Manici (Gran Parma), Edoardo Carugi (Firenze), Fillipo Cazzola (Montebelluna), Paolo Stinchello (SSD Unione Capitolina), Fillppo Ferrarini (Noceto FC), Gabriele Cicchinelli (SSD Unione Capitolina), Lorenzo Santelli (ASD Universita Cosenza, Captain)
Replacements: Enrico Lioineri (Ruggers Tarvisum), Nicola Corbanese (Ruggers Tarvisum), Antonio Denti (Viadana), Daniele Fratalochhi (Sambendettese), Marco Barbino (Petraca), Tommaso Bergonzini (Viadana), Edoardo Gori (Cavalieri), Giovanno Frapporti (Valpolicella), Francesco Lenzi (Cavalieri), Giovanbattista Venditti (SSD Unione Capitolina), Marcello Paglia (Rugby Noceto FC)
