Sam O’Connor (Dorset), Theo Bevaqua (Sussex), Harry Breeze, Ed Dunford (both Surrey), Carwyn Tuipulotu, (Merseyside), Tom Mathews (Hampshire), Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucestershire), Ioan Lloyd (Bristol) and Daniel John (Somerset) all feature in the 26-man squad which saw Wales lose 38-20 in the opening game against England at Hartpury on Saturday.
Rees-Zammit missed the game as he was creating his own slice of history by becoming the youngest Gloucester player to figure in a league match when he came on as a second half replacement against Bath in the Gallagher Premiership.
Wales U18s head coach, Chris Horsman said: “The Exiles boys have been excellent and this is a great opportunity for them to make their mark in the WRU pathway. The Exiles programme is a hugely important part of our player identification and monitoring process and our national succession planning.”
WRU National Exiles Officer Gareth Davies, addedd: “Nineteen Exiles were involved in the Wales U18s training squad earlier this season and it’s great that so many have now been selected for this tournament.
“Their selection demonstrates that there is a clear and credible pathway to national age rugby in Wales for Exiles players. There are also other Exiles in the Wales U19s and U20s programme as well as with the World Series 7s squad.
“The excellent relationship we have with the Welsh regions means there is also a credible route to professional rugby too. This U18 Six Nations tournament is just the start of a journey which will give these players the opportunity to progress here in Wales.
“There are now nearly 1,700 young Welsh qualified players in the Exiles programme and there is a pathway for every single one of them to maximise their potential here in Wales.”
Wales have two remaining games in the U18 Six Nations Festival with matches against Scotland on Wednesday and Italy on Sunday.
