Wales are the first to announce their squad in the build-up to the forthcoming Student Four Nations championships in Scotland.
The competition will be played in Edinburgh from Sunday 12 June and Wales have named their 22-man party.
Wales will have a final two training sessions next week, after which the squad will be cut to 20, writes Ian Golden.
The 22 come from a total of 13 establishments from all over the UK, with many of the squad already having played for South Wales Scorpions first team, reserves, academy or are involved in other professional clubs.
Head coach Latham Tawhai said: “The selection of this group of players comes after our training weekend held at Caerphilly RFC a few days ago where the players were put through a couple of days of intense training to prepare them for the rigours of the tournament where they will play three games in the space of six days.
“Whilst some of the more senior players are unavailable for selection this year due to other commitments, we’re excited to unveil some of the up and coming talent in Wales.
“There is no doubt we will have one of the youngest Student sides we’ve ever taken to the tournament but given we are a year out from a World Cup we felt it was important to blood some of the younger players who have a great chance of making it on to the plane next year. They’ll learn a lot from being part of this tournament which hopefully puts them in good stead come 2017.”
WALES SQUAD:
Chris Jones (Bangor University)
Liam Cashman, Fraser Robinson (both University of Bath)
Harry Boots, Tom Morgan, Iestyn Withers (all Cardiff Metropolitan University)
Sion Jones, Lloyd Selby Smith, Lewis Willacott, Josh Williams (all Coleg Y Cymoedd)
Matt Davies, Liam Rice Williams (both University of Gloucestershire)
Connor Davies, Curtis Davies, Marcus Webb (all Leeds Beckett University)
Lewis Hughes (Neath Port Talbot College)
Tom Davies (Newcastle University)
Ieaun Jones (Northumbria University)
Alec Wheatley (Nottingham Trent University)
Evan Wynne (Sheffield Hallam University)
Brandon Lamb (South Gloucestershire and Stroud College)
Cobi Green (Treorchy Comprehensive School)
Fixtures (all games at the University of Edinburgh, Peffermill Playing Fields) are:
Sunday 13 June – Ireland v England (3.30pm), Scotland v Wales (6.00pm)
Tuesday 15 June – Wales v Ireland (3.30pm), Scotland v England (6.00pm)
Friday 18 June – Scotland v Ireland (noon), England v Wales 2.30pm)
