14 Dragons Amateur Regional players have been selected in a provisional Welsh Clubs XV training squad who met yesterday (Sunday) for their first training session.
The Welsh Clubs XV is the WRU’s newest international representative side and they will play at a tournament in Belgium next month with fixtures involving Spain and France Amateur along with Belgium. In November on the morning of the Wales v Australia international they will play their first home international against France.
A squad of 41 is currently training and this will be reduced to 26 at the end of July. Players are all 25 or under and play for clubs in the WRU Asda Leagues 1-5. All the nominated players for this national squad represented their regions last season in the inaugural WRU Regional Community Championship which saw The Dragons crowned winners.
The Dragons have the largest representation of all the Regions in the training squad with the Ospreys having five, Blues seven, Scarlets ten and three players from the North Wales regional side.
Dragons Community and Coach Development Manager Gerry Roberts is head coach to the Welsh Clubs XV. Speaking on the new venture he commented, “It is fantastic for players at this level to have the chance to represent their country. I know from working with the Dragons Amateur squad this season how much enthusiasm there is from players to represent their regions and now to be part of a national training squad is a dream come true for them. Although these are not professional rugby players, from a management point of view, we want to create an environment which is as professional as possible on and off the pitch, from the quality of training sessions to dietary advice and hopefully that will be reciprocated in the players’ attitudes on and off the field.”
Welsh Clubs XV Training squad
Backs: Nathan Gittings (Fleur de Lys / Dragons), Arwel Roberts (Llangefni/ Gogledd), Andrew Banfield (Loughor / Ospreys), Gwyn Pengelly (Brecon / Blues), Gavin Close (Rhydyfelin / Blues), Tom Bonnell (Trimsaran / Scarlets), Matthew Jacobs (Llangennech / Scarlets), David James (Blackwood / Dragons), Matthew Lewis (Builth Wells / Blues), Darren Humphries (Bargoed / Dragons), Phil Price (Merthyr Tydfil/ Blues), Peter Smiriglia (Loughor / Scarlets), Justin Lewis (Ammanford / Scarlets), Aled Davies (Whitland / Scarlets), Jamie Howells (Bargoed / Dragons), Nathan Healy (Nantyffyllon / Ospreys), Phil Tucker (Penclawdd / Ospreys), Rhodri Jones (Talywain / Dragons), John Hooper (Seven Sisters / Ospreys)
Forwards: Anthony Lott, Ross Jones (both Bargoed / Dragons), Owen Cotton (Ynysybwl /Blues), Ashley Bannister (Llanelli Wanderers / Scarlets), Dafydd Davies (Narberth / Scarlets), Mark Jones (Pontyberem / Scarlets), Peter Harrison (Caerphilly / Dragons), Lee Williams (Croesyceiliog / Dragons), Gareth Gore (Carmarthen Quins / Scarlets), Jamie Noble (Blaina / Dragons), Chris James (Narberth / Scarlets), Andrew Packer (Newport Saracens / Dragons), Rob Downes (Beddau / Blues), Kevin Rees (Felinfoel / Scarlets), Steven Roberts (Bethesda / Gogledd), Kelvin Davies (Llandudno / Gogledd), Lee Edwards (Tredegar / Dragons), Owain Thomas (Whitland / Scarlets), Wayne Morris (Builth Wells / Blues), Stuart Barrow (Penclawdd / Ospreys), Geraint Turner (Abercynon / Blues), David Brake (Caerphilly /Dragons).
