Dragons Academy’s Cerrig Smith captains Wales Under-19s this Saturday as they take on France in Massy, (kick-off 3.30pm).
Smith is one of eight Dragons selected in the 26-strong squad, alongside Carter Pritchard, Nathan Davies, James Talamai, Luke Daniel, Morgan Carter, Rhys Cole and Noah Morgan.
The trip to the southern suburbs of Paris is one of three opportunities for Wales U20 head coach Richard Whiffin to assess a wider pool of players as he prepares to name his Six Nations squad early in the New Year.
After Saturday’s game, Wales U19s will host England in December at Ystrad Mynach, before Wales U20s face Scotland at Merthyr RFC.
“We’re really excited for the opportunity of getting out to Paris and play France U19s at Massey, a very famous rugby club in Paris,” said Whiffin.
“The boys are excited at getting that opportunity against one of the best teams in the world.
“The game shows we are beefing up our U19 programme by getting a fixture in this early in the year and it allows us to get a look at more players early in the season and gives those guys a chance to put their hands up for U20 Six Nations selection in a couple of months.”
Wales U19 Team v France U19:
Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby); Joseff Jones (Cardiff Rugby), Bailey Cutts (Cardiff Rugby), Jack Hoskins (Ospreys), Ben Evans (Ospreys); Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), Carter Pritchard (Dragons RFC); George Leyland (Bristol),Tom Howe (Cardiff Rugby), Nathan Davies (Dragons RFC), Oscar Rees (Gloucester), Osian Williams (Bristol Bears), Kai Jones (Scarlets), Joe Denman (Scarlets), Cerrig Smith (Capt) (Dragons RFC)
Replacements: James Talamai (Dragons RFC), Dylan Barratt (Cardiff Rugby), Callum Donoghue-Proud (Cardiff Rugby), Sonny McCabe (Cardiff Rugby), Luke Daniel (Dragons RFC), Sam Morgan (Ospreys), Luca Woodyatt (Gloucester), Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby), Morgan Carter (Dragons RFC), Rhys Cole (Dragons RFC), Noah Morgan (Dragons RFC)
...it allows us to get a look at more players early in the season and gives those guys a chance to put their hands up for U20 Six Nations selection in a couple of months.
