Richie Pugh has named his Wales Under 18 squad to tackle France U18 on Tuesday in the second round of games in this year’s Six Nations Festival in Vichy, France. (Streamed live on WRU Youtube, KO 3.15pm)
Pugh’s squad will be buoyed by their impressive opening round win against Scotland but face a France side who scored a convincing victory of their own against Georgia at Stade Municipal Louis Darragon on the first day of action.
“The boys showed good game understanding when they came under a lot of pressure against Scotland,’ reflected Pugh, before adding, “there was a good bit of grit shown in the second half when we were under a lot of pressure to stop Scotland from scoring, so it was pleasing they got the result they deserved.”
Pugh was delighted to see his side secure the victory against the Scots where he said they forced a lot of turnovers and errors from a good Scotland team and ‘every one of them gave the effort which resulted in the reward.
France, in front of their passionate crowd, pose the next obstacle for Pugh’s side but he is confident his side can rise to the challenge.
“Playing France in France, boys don’t get that many opportunities to do that across their career, so it is great to experience that,” said Pugh.
“We know it is a strong dangerous French side, Georgia did cause them problems at times when they played the other day but the focus is on us.
“We’re making changes across the team to freshen up the group and we’re ready to go. They are quick turnarounds here – our big focus is on us is but being fully aware of what France are going to want to do and what fires them up in terms of their looseness and how they move the ball with their off-load game.
“We’ve got to play our game and minimise the French threat.”
Wales U18 V France U18
Stade Municipal Louis Darragon, Vichy | 07.04.26 | KO 15.15
15 Dylan Quin (Gower College, Ospreys)
14 Jac Williams (Llandrillo, RGC)
13 Harry Kinsey (Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby)
12 Will Adams (Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby)
11 Harvey Bryant (Cardiff & Vale/ Cardiff Rugby)
10 Madoc Evans (Preseli, Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets)
9 George Thomas (Coleg y Cymoedd, Cardiff Rugby);
1 Logan Goodluck (St Davids, College, Llandrillo, RGC)
2 Cole Lacey (Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets)
3 Sam Bryant (Hartpury College, Gloucester)
4 Harvey Thomas (Llandovery College, Scarlets)
5 William Carroll (Bridgend College, Ospreys)
6 Will Watkins (Y Pant, Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby)
7 Jac Cloke (Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets) – CAPT
8 Mosese Tuliakiono (Radley College, Gloucester)
FINISHERS
16 Tiaan Hall (Coleg Gwent, Dragons RFC)
17 Bryan Kamanga (Llandovery College, Cardiff Rugby)
18 Isaac Jones (Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff Rugby)
19 Harri Lewis (Llandovery College, Cardiff Rugby
20 Alfie Prygodzicz (Ysgol Glantfaf, Cardiff Rugby)
21 Alfie Luger (Llandovery College, Scarlets
22 Will Ford (St Cenydd, Dragons RFC)
23 Owen Lewis (Coleg y Cymoedd, Cardiff Rugby)
24 Ryley Fussell (Coleg y Cymoedd, Dragons)
25 Sam Morgan (St Cenydd, Coleg Gwent, Dragons RFC)
26 Rhys Owen (Coleg Sir Gar, Scarlets)