Teenage wing Dewi Cross should have a night to remember for the Ospreys as he finds himself lining up alongside Wales centre Cory Allen and opposing the Scarlets and Wales wing Steff Evans. Evans has been given a chance to build some confidence outside the 1st XV and will no doubt be looking to make an impression the day before the senior Scarlets side play a re-run of last season’s PRO14 final at home to Leinster.
Cross isn’t the only teenager looking to make a name for himself among the four Welsh regional sides. All teams have recent stars of the Under 18 and Under 20 national sides lining up alongside seasoned professionals like Scarlets hooker Marc Jones, Blues back row man Macauley Cook and Ospreys lock Lloyd Ashley. Welsh World Cup sevens stars Luke Morgan (Ospreys) and Cai Devine (Blues) also feature.
“Boys like Steve Shingler and Macauley Cook will help guide some of the younger boys through these games,” said Blues head coach Richie Rees.
“Playing with and learning from experienced regional players will be invaluable for the younger boys’ development. Our main focus heading into this block of games will be how the boys perform.
“The aim is to see improvement both individually and collectively while increasing accountability throughout. There are some exciting games to come, some good trips and it will also be huge for their development off-the-field.
“This will be some of the boys’ first experience of an intensive, competitive block over a number of weeks. There are two away trips to Ireland to come, and the hope is that we get the boys ready, both on and off the field, for when they get called up for the senior team.”
Celtic Cup – Round 1
Dragons v Cardiff Blues (Rodney Parade, 7.15pm)
Ospreys v Scarles (Brewery Field, 7.00pm)
Teams
Dragons: Will Talbot-Davies; Joe Goodchild, Deon Smith, Connor Edwards (captain), Jared Rosser; Jacob Botica, Dan Babos; Josh Reynolds, Rhys Lawrence, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Max Williams, Lennon Greggains, James Benjamin, Ben Fry
Reps: Zac Hewlett, Scott Evans, Luke Yendle, Ed Scragg, Taine Basham, Dafydd Buckland, Tiaan Loots, Carwyn Penny
Cardiff Blues: Dan Fish; Aled Summerhill, Cam Lewis, Steven Shingler, Tom Williams; Ben Jones, Lewis Jones; Rhys Carré, Liam Belcher, Keiron Assiratti, Macauley Cook, James Down, Shane Lewis-Hughes, James Botham, Alun Lawrence (captain)
Reps: Iestyn Harris, Fraser Young, Will Davies King, Cai Devine, Ioan Rhys Davies, Jamie Hill, Ben Thomas, Max Llewellyn
Ospreys: Dylan Moss; Dewi Cross, Cory Allen, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Luke Morgan; Josh Thomas, Harri Morgan; Rhys Davies, Ifan Phillips (captain), Mitchell Walsh, Matthew Dodd, Lloyd Ashley, James Ratti, Morgan Morris, Guido Volpi
Reps: Dewi Lake, Jake Woodward , Garyn Daniel, Charlie Davies, Joe Grabham, Matthew Aubrey, Callum Carson, Joe Jenkins
Scarlets: Morgan Williams; Tomi Lewis, Corey Baldwin, Osian Knott, Steffan Evans; Ethan Davies, Kieran Hardy; Rhys Fawcett, Marc Jones, Javan Sebastian, Josh Helps, Tom Price, Tom Phillips, Shaun Evans, Joe Miles
Reps: Taylor Davies, Jamie Hughes, Kemsley Mathias, Morgan Jones, Lewis Ellis-Jones, Declan Smith, Ryan Conbeer, Thomas Rogers
