Welsh Juniors on the rise..

[Coastbloke]

Hopefully a sign of things to come in the future if there are every 4 years GB tours..??

http://www.crusadersrfl.com/article.php?id=796

There are seven Welsh youngsters in the Great Britain Community Lions Under-18s squad who will face France Juniors at Blackwood RFC on Wednesday 17th February (kick-off 7.30pm).

Head coach Dave Woods has named five players from the Crusaders and one from the South Wales Scorpions in his 18-man squad. In addition, Lewis Reece, currently a Crusaders under 18s player, is also in the Scorpions train-on squad.

The Welsh players come from all around the south with Quick and Rhys Fenton both from Llanrumney in Cardiff, Owen Williams from Ystradgynlais, Dale Evans from Maerdy, Adam Davies from Newport, Lewis Reece from Rumney in Cardiff and Kyle Blackmore from Blaengwynfi, Port Talbot.

The squad has been named following last week's game between England and Wales, which Wales won 28-14, and Woods is confident that the international will have been beneficial in the preparation for the Test Match.

"I'm really looking forward to the game against France," said Woods. "The England and Wales game gave me the chance to have a really good look at the players and I'm sure that the squad we've selected to take on France will acquit themselves really well."

Woods will be assisted in the coaching set up by Kelvin Lockett and Wales under 18 coach Stuart Williams.

The Crusaders youngsters are back in action this Sunday when their team take on Keighley Cougars under 18s at Treherbert RFC (kick-off 1.30pm).

Great Britain Community Lions Under-18s squad to face France Juniors:

1 Shane Ackerly (West Cumbria)
2 Rhys Fenton (Crusaders)
3 Owen Williams (Crusaders)
4 Loren Quick (South Wales Scorpions)
5 Reece Lazenby (West Hull)
6 Callum Phillips (West Cumbria)
7 Dale Evans (Crusaders)
8 Stephen Welton (Gateshead Thunder)
9 Alistair Leak (West Cumbria)
10 Adam Davies (Crusaders)
11 Glenn Riley (West Hull)
12 Matthew Huby (Wath Brow Hornets)
13 Lewis Reece (Crusaders / South Wales Scorpions)
14 David Orwell (Saddleworth Rangers)
15 Kyle Blackmore (Crusaders)
16 Matthew Syron (Queens)
17 Kirk Collins (West Hull)
18 Daniel Bergon (Widnes St Maries)

Great Britain Community Lions Under-18s v France Juniors
Wednesday February 17
Blackwood RFC, Gwent

 

[nadera78]

That is a team made up of the best U-18's at amateur clubs. None of them are signed to pro clubs and none of them will be. At 18 years of age they would have been part of the Academy structure by now if they were going to have a career in the game. It's comparable to the ARL selecting a team of 18 year olds playing in regional comps and not affiliated to NRL clubs.

That said, it's good to see more kids being given the chance to play rep football of some form or another.

 

[Evil Homer]

Loren Quick will probably be a regular for the Scorpions but other than that fair point nadera.