Wales under 16 head coach Lee Crooks has named an initial 17-man squad for this autumn’s international match against England on Saturday 31st August (venue TBC).

The players were chosen following a final trial match in Ystrad Mynach last week which pitted sides chosen from the initial north and south trial locations, the northern-based outfit winning 48-20 on the day.

Nine of the 17 are from South Wales community clubs and the remaining three places in the 20-man squad for the game will also come from that area. They will be selected from a South East v South West Origin game which will be held on Wednesday 24th July.

Following that, Crook and his staff will also select the Wales U16 development squad which will underpin the squad who will play England.

Crooks said: “I’m very excited to get everyone together in preparation for the England game. There’s big potential in this group, we now have to work hard with them to move that potential in the right direction. There’s a lot that excites me about this group and if we get the structure and basics right, then we’ll make a good fist of this game.”

WALES U16 INITIAL SQUAD: Kyle Huish, Will Oates, Billy Wakeley* (all Aber Valley Wolves), Sam Godfrey* (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Josh Atkinson, Iwan Pyrs-Jones, Gabe Santos, Ewan Skuse (all Cardiff Blue Dragons), Lucas Elliott (Elmbridge Eagles), Noah Bray (Emley Moor), Luke Thomas (Latchford Giants), Ben Mayhew (Leeds Rhinos), Morgan Chell* (Llanelli Knights), Iwan Stacey (London Broncos), Oscar Fisher (Newcastle Thunder), James Pugsley (Telford Raiders), Lewis Pinder (Wigan Warriors).

* All also in the West Wales Raiders Academy