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Seven from Dragons Region in Clubs Starting XV

Seven players from clubs in the Dragons region have been selected in the Welsh Clubs XV for their first home international at Caerphilly RFC on Friday night (kick off 7.15pm)

Kath McCarthy | 01/11/2006

Welsh Clubs XV captain Anthony Lott will lead a familiar side against France at Caerphilly on Friday night ( kick-off 7.15pm).

Bargoed hooker Leigh Meads, Abercynon flanker Geraint Turner and Narberth no 8 Lewis Woods are the only three players to start against the experienced French side who weren't involved in the four nations tournament in Belgium last August when the Welsh Under 25 side played Spain and France.

Dragons community captain prop Lott, who leads the side for the third time said: "For all the players involved in the Welsh Clubs XV, it is really something special to be able to put on a Wales shirt and represent your country.

"We all work hard outside of rugby and train hard during the week to get to where we are now which is playing in an international rugby match.

"The Welsh Clubs XV is a new concept but it gives players at club level something to strive towards.

"There's a good spirit that's been built up over the past couple of months and as you can imagine we are all looking forward to facing the French tomorrow night."

The Two Welsh Captains:
Stephen Jones is pictured with Welsh Clubs XV Captain Anthony Lott

And WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis will get his first taste of international rugby in his new post after being delighted to accept an invitation to attend Friday's historic first home fixture.

"If Saturday's game against Australia at the Millennium Stadium will all be about business, my Friday night trip to Caerphilly will be mostly about pleasure," said Lewis, who took up his post with the Union on Monday.

"I'll be attending as an ardent Welsh rugby fan and will be supporting my country in this exciting new venture. The Community Game is vitally important to the WRU, and the nation as a whole, and this new team needs all the help and support it can get.

"That's why David Pickering, the WRU chairman, and I will both be heading to Caerphilly to watch the team in action. They performed very creditably on their first two outings in Liege, Belgium in August and I know having spoken to the coach Gerry Roberts that every player is thrilled to be representing their country on home soil.

"The French will pose a huge challenge, so the more fans who come and join us at Virginia Park the better."

The Welsh Clubs XV side is made up of players aged 25 and under from ASDA Leagues Division 1-5 who represent their Regions in the WRU Regional Community Championship. They went down 25-7 to Spain and then 28-17 to France Amateurs in their summer competition debut.

Starting XV
Andrew Banfield (Loughor, Ospreys); Matthew Jacobs (Llangennech, Scarlets), Darren Humphries (Bargoed, Dragons), Peter Smriglia (Loughor, Ospreys), Thomas Bonnell (Trimsaran, Scarlets); Jamie Howells (Bargoed, Dragons), Rhodri Jones (Garndiffaith, Dragons); Ross Jones (Bargoed, Dragons), Leigh Meads (Bargoed, Dragons), Anthony Lott (Bargoed, Dragons, captain), Chris James (Narberth, Scarlets), Gareth Gore (Carmarthen Quins, Scarlets), Geraint Turner (Abercynon, Blues), Andrew Packer (Newport Saracens, Dragons), Lewis Woods (Narberth, Scarlets).

Replacements: Owen Cotton (Ynysybwl, Blues), Mark Jones (Pontyberem, Scarlets), James Bannister (Llanelli Wanderers, Scarlets), Lee Williams (Newport Saracens, Dragons), Paul Rees (Felinfoel, Scarlets), Phil Tucker (Penclawdd, Ospreys), Nathan Gittins (Merthyr Tydfil, Blues)

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