Cardiff Blues under-18 have confirmed their extended squad for the upcoming Regional Age Grade Championship campaign.
The side will once again be led by joint head coaches, Aled James and Craig Everett, who are assisted by backs coach, Justin Thomas, and forwards coach, Scott Andrews, who is a member of the Cardiff Blues senior squad.
10 members of this season’s crop are contracted to the Cardiff Blues academy, with five Wales under-18 internationals included in the form of Ben Burnell, Mason Grady, Alex Mann, Ethan Lloyd and Jake Thomas.
Joint head coach, Everett, said: “We’re extremely excited for this Championship campaign, and there is real potential in this squad.
“We have a selection of boys who have earned well-deserved contracts with the academy, and this puts them in a great position to develop on a personal level. But this will also be a boost to the group itself, and they’ve already brought a really positive energy into the squad.
“As always, we’re expecting tough challenges against the other regions, but these boys have all been involved with successful sides at under-16 and as a group we feel like we can have a real crack at challenging for the Championship this season.
“Training has been great and we’re looking forward to kicking off the campaign up in Ystrad Mynach on Tuesday evening.”
The Championship gets underway this evening as Wales’ Capital Region travel to Ystrad Mynach to take on their Dragons counterparts, before welcoming RGC to Sardis Road on Sunday, 1 September (KO 2.30pm)
The full line-up for this evening’s clash against Dragons under-18 will be announced imminently.
- Italics denotes players contracted to Cardiff Blues academy
Forwards: Rhys Anstey, Rhys Barratt, Harrison Chapman, Efan Daniel, Jack Dauncey, Rhys Dauncey, Corben Evans, Nathan Evans, Sam Evans, Ethan Fackrell, Ellis Fackrell, Iestyn Galton, Travis Green, Cai James, William Jameson, Ryan Jenkins, Lewis Jones, Evan Lloyd, Alex Mann, Oscar O’Hare, Dan Perry, Harri Williams
Backs: Ben Burnell, Theo Cabango, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Mason Grady, Oliver James, Ethan Lloyd, Cole Morgan, Tyler Morris, Harvey Nash, Griff Naylor, Josh Phillips, Iwan Pyrs-Jones, Keian Richards, Mccauley Rowley, Jake Thomas, Edward Thomas, Christopher Thompson, Ryan Wilkins, Cameron Winnett