WALES, who will play Under 17 friendlies against Scotland and England next month (both at home) have named a 25-strong squad. Up to 17 will earn their first caps at any level.

The Under 17 team has been reintroduced – the only previous occasion was partly to mark the lifting of the Covid lockdowns – to give talented youngsters the chance, given the success of the junior pathways in Wales, to experience international Rugby League.

Coach Ben Evans, who has recruited fellow former Wales men’s internationals Ben Flower and Lloyd White as his assistants, said: “We received interest in the trials from more than 100 players, highlighting the continued growth of Rugby League in Wales.

“I’m delighted to be coaching the side, and I’m also pleased to be working alongside Ben and Lloyd.

“Their experience as professional Rugby League players, and now as coaches, brings invaluable knowledge to the environment we’re building.

“The Under 17 programme has been introduced to bridge the gap between the Under 16 and Under 19 age groups, creating a clear development pathway from Origin level through to the senior Wales team, with a long-term focus on the 2030 World Cup. We’re all looking forward to the journey ahead.”

Wales host Scotland at The Wern, Merthyr Tydfil on Sunday, June 7 and England at The Gnoll, Neath on Saturday, June 20. Both games will kick off at 2.30 and will, in each instance, be the second match in a triple header. Under 16 internationals between Wales and, respectively, Scotland and England will open each day, and Student Four Nations fixtures between the same countries will wrap up the action.

Squad: Ali Al Jassem (Aber Valley Wolves, Llandovery College), Eddie Ashman (Wakefield Trinity, Harrogate Grammar), Evan Benjamin, Will Dawkins, Ben Foskett (all Bridgend Blue Bulls and Loughborough College), Finley Bosanko-Sheady (Aber Valley Wolves, SGS College), Charlie Burrows (Aber Valley Wolves, Newport High), Matthew Clatworthy (Bridgend Blue Bulls, Oakham School), Jayden Coxe (South Wales Jets, Coleg y Cymoedd), Alan Delegiewicz (Bristol All Golds, The Castle School), Keilan Harris, Dewi Thomas, Elliott Williams (all Aber Valley Wolves), Thomas Hayden (Rhonnda Outlaws, Neath Port Talbot College), Joseff Keating (Bridgend Blue Bulls, Mountain Ash Comprehensive), Nathan Lee (Bridgend Blue Bulls, Coleg Sir Gar), Dylan Little (Cardiff Blue Dragons, Cowbridge Comprehensive), Ruben Main (Rhondda Outlaws, Mountain Ash Comprehensive), Lewis Mathias (Crosfields, Warrington College), Ronan Parry (Orrell St James, Winstanley College), Harry Price (Aber Valley Wolves, Newport High), Rylie Probert (Torfaen Tigers), Zach Robbins (Oulton Raiders, Llandovery College), Evan Trott (Bridgend Blue Bulls, Bridgend College), Calum Woolfe (West Wales Jets, Ysgol Bro Dynefwr).

Al Jassem, Bosanko-Sheady, Coxe, Delegiewicz, Foskett, Hayden, Keating, Lee, Little, Main, Price, Probert, Robbins, Thomas, Trott, Williams and Woolfe are uncapped at any level.

Wales Under 19s pushed Widnes Vikings Under 19s hard on Saturday before losing 32-30.