Wales U18 head coach Geraint Lewis has named six young Ospreys in his squad for the Wales U18 development tour to South Africa.
Wales leave for South Africa on Monday and kick off the series with a tough challenge against South Africa Schools on Friday. They then play Italy on Tuesday 16 August and South Africa Schools A on Saturday 20 August.
The majority of the squad represented Wales U18 last season and could go on to push for Wales U20 honours next season with the tour very much seen as a way to bridge the gap between the two age groups.
The trio of Phil Jones, Will Jones and James Ratti all played their part in the Welsh leg of the Singha 7s but miss the final this weekend to travel with the Welsh squad. They are joined in the squad by hooker Jordon Liney, centre Dylan Moss and lock Will Griffiths.
Lewis said: "The boys been working very hard to get ready for this tour and they are very much looking forward to it. We are making some strides individually and as a team so hopefully by the time we get out there we'll be ready to take on South Africa.
"At age grade level, this series is a great opportunity to experience different styles of rugby, and different cultures too. The focus of the tour is to get players ready for Under 20 international rugby next season, the players will hopefully learn a huge amount that they can take forward to the next level.
"South Africa is a great rugby playing nation, and their schools rugby is as strong as any nation in the world. They have only ever lost one game in this tournament and that was to a strong England side so we will need to be at our best to compete next Friday."
Wales U18 squad for International Series in South Africa:
Backs:
Jared Rosser (Dragons/ Ebbw Vale/ Newport High School), Will Talbot Davies (Dragons / Solihull), Corey Baldwin (Scarlets/ Llandovery College), Joe Goodchild (Dragons/ Coleg Gwent/ Garndiffaith), Ryan Conbeer (Scarlets/ Sir Gar), Ben Thomas (Blues/ Cardiff & Vale Coll, St Peters), Dylan Moss (Ospreys/ Wellington College), Cameron Lewis (Blues/ Wattstown/ Cymoedd), Ben Jones (Blues/ Treharris/ Cymoedd), Phil Jones (Ospreys/ Gowerton/ Gowerton), Owain Leonard (Dragons/ Abergavenny / Gwynlliw), Dane Blacker (Blues/Cymoedd / Pontypridd);
Forwards:
Rhys Carre (Blues/ Cardiff/ Cowbridge), Connor Lewis (Blues/ Beddau/ Cymoedd), Harri Dobbs (Blues/ Cowbridge/ St Peters ), Tom Mably (Blues/ St Peter's, Cymoedd), Jordan Liney (Ospreys/ Dunvant/ Hartbury), Corrie Tarrant (Blues/ Pontypridd/ Cymoedd), Christian Coleman (Dragons / Garndiffaith/ Newport High), Callum Bradbury (Blues/ Beddau/ Cymoedd), Will Griffiths (Ospreys/ Gowerton/ Gowerton), James Ratti (Ospreys/Aberavon/Gower), Max Williams (Dragons/ Newport High), Will Jones (Ospreys/ Penclawdd/ Gower), James Botham (Blues/ Sedburgh School), Joe Thomas (Dragons / Penallta / Coleg Gwent), Morgan Morris (Gloucester / Hartpury College)
Fri 12 August 4pm South Africa Schools v Wales (City Park Stadium, Crawford)
Tues 16 August 1pm Wales v Italy (Bishops Diocesan College, Rondebosch)
Sat 20 August 4pm South Africa Schools A v Wales (Paarl Boys High, Paarl)
