There’s an exciting friendly match in store this Saturday at Penallta RFC when South Wales Jets host Wales Students (kick-off 2pm).
Each side are preparing for bigger games to come, with Wales Students, coach by Clive Griffiths, due to play international matches this summer, whilst the Jets are looking forward to their third season in the JES Rugby League Conference.
Griffiths returns for a third spell in coaching Wales Students having been their original head coach from 1988-92 then again taking charge two decades later from 2008-13. A total of 43 full student international matches at the helm.
Many of the players are coming into this game on the back of defeats. South Wales Jets lost away to a strong Wests Warriors side in London last week, whilst six of the Wales Students squad played for Coleg y Cymoedd in their British students final defeat to Hull FC College on Wednesday.
In addition to playing alongside each other this Saturday, seven players from Swansea and two from Cardiff will also be looking forward to facing each other at Welsh Varsity next Wednesday.
Griffiths’ squad of 20 is selected from seven establishments, with five of the side winning caps for Wales Students last season.
“We’ve a young side but we’re planning for the future,” Griffiths said. “All the players want to learn and they’re committed to being the best they can, both in training and in matches, and we know we’ll get a big test this Saturday.”
Jets’ coach Ben Flower said: “We’ve a lot who are new to the game, but that’s the reason we’re playing early. We want to help get more players into rugby league as growing the game is what it’s all about.
“We’ll be playing against a young fit rugby league side and I’m sure both sides will be putting a big effort in throughout the game.”
Wales Students: Garin Nicholls (Bath Spa University), Rhys Hill, Alex Naylor (Cardiff University), Jacob Purcell (Cardiff Metropolitan University), Mason Apsee, Oliver Ford, Reuben Ghatt, Alex Green, George Groves, Brandon Richards (Coleg y Cymoedd), Leo Jones (University of Exeter), Lewis Howells, Iwan Stacey (University of Nottingham), Oliver Firth, Jack Hunter, Lewis Ingram, Connor Madden, Thomas Moore, Eli Weekes, Archie Willock (Swansea University)
South Wales Jets: Ben Jones, Ieuan Sims, Dean Higgs, Ross Price, Daf Hellard, Ben Pinnock, Scott Kear, Lewis Hughes, Matt Savage, Jonny Reid, Mike Hurley, Cobi Green, Craig Lewis, Lewis Rowden, Blaine Smith, Shane Lee, Matt Jacobs, Tyler Jones, Jack Hodder, Laurence Pritchard, Dai Hooper.
