Wales v France
Carmarthen Athletic RFC
Sunday 14th February, Kick-off 2pm
Wales under 18s are looking to extended their fine run of form as they take on France Juniors at Carmarthen Athletic RFC this Sunday (kick-off 2pm).
The match is the first of two junior internationals in South Wales this week with the French staying in the area and taking on Great Britain at Blackwood RFC on Wednesday evening.
Wales go into the match in a confident mood following their outstanding display in Leeds two weeks ago when they outclassed an England side 28-14 excelling in both attack and defence.
They have already named their 17 and have made just three changes from the side that beat England with Harlequins duo Jack Molloy and Gerrard Ellis and Crusaders' Jack Pring being the new additions to the side.
As expected, the majority of the Welsh players have been drawn from the Crusaders while there are two representatives from the new South Wales Scorpions side that kick-off on Sunday 21st February with a home match against Wigan Warriors.
Likewise, France's squad is dominated by players who are on the books of UTC, or Union Trieze Catalans, to give them their full name, the main feeder side to Super League outfit Catalans Dragons. However eight other clubs are represented in France's 21-man travelling squad, including four from Lezignan where they play and train alongside former Crusaders Tony Duggan, Damien Quinn and Aurelien Cologni.
France and Wales last met at under 18 level in September 2008 in the European Cup Final in Prague, a game that Wales won 38-24 to take the European crown.
Sunday's match will be preceded by an under 16 encounter between local side Dinefwr Sharks and St Albans Centurions, which kicks off at 12.30pm, while following the international, St Albans senior side goes up against South Wales Thunder, a representative Welsh amateur side, selected from players from the Welsh Conference Premier.
Wales: Rhys Evans (Warrington Wolves), Dan Godwin (Crusaders), Loren Quick (South Wales Scorpions), Owen Williams (Crusaders), Jack Pring (Crusaders), Dafydd Carter (Crusaders), Dale Evans (Crusaders), Ben Evans (Warrington Wolves), Kyle Blackmore (Crusaders), Adam Davies (Crusaders), Dale Blackmore (Rhyl Coasters), Rhodri Lloyd (Crusaders), Lewis Reece (South Wales Scorpions),
Jack Molloy (Harlequins), Owain Griffiths (Leeds Met), Nathan Hawkins (Crusaders), Gerrard Ellis (Harlequins).
France (from): Lilian Albet (Villeneuve), Noel Andreuccett (RCC Carpentras), Andrew Bigat (FC Lezignan), Theo Bonneriez (UTC), Pierre Louis Bourrel (Limoux), Julian Bousquet (FC Lezignan), Damien Cardace (FC Lezignan) Anthony Deleigne (FC Lezignan), Morgan Escare (UTC), Julien Laffite (UTC), Alexis Falip (ETC), Lenny Foncillas (UTC), Nicolas Houbloup (AS Corbeil Essonnes), Thibault Margalet (UTC), Guillaume Martinez (UTC), Marc Meye (Pia), Joseph Negre (UTC), Eloi Pelissier (UTC), Clement Soubeyras (RCC Carpentras), Remi Vignau (Toulouse).
Sunday 14th February - Carnegie Challenge Cup Second Round - Edinburgh Eagles v Blackwood Bulldogs - Meggetland Sports Complex - Boroughmuir RFC - kick-off 12.30pm
When reading that a match is taking place between Edinburgh and Blackwood, one would immediately think that this is a total mismatch.
After all, it's not often that you read about a team from Scotland's capital city going up against representatives from a town in the Caerphilly County Borough which has a population of around 23,000.
However Edinburgh Eagles and Blackwood Bulldogs are the rugby league champions of Scotland and Wales respectively and the two meet this Sunday in the second round of rugby league's oldest knockout tournament, the Carnegie Challenge Cup, with a possible tie against a professional side awaiting the winners.
In a match that extends the Wales v Scotland weekend to both codes of rugby, whatever the outcome, a piece of history will be made.
If Edinburgh Eagles win, then they will become Scotland's first ever representatives in the Third Round of the Cup while Blackwood Bulldogs hope to become the first non-professional Welsh side in ten years, and the first from the Welsh Rugby League Conference, to reach this stage.
In 2000, Cardiff Cougars, an amalgamation between Cardiff Demons and UWIC university reached the third round and lost to Keighley Cougars. Since then, only Celtic Crusaders have represented Wales in Round Three onwards.
Bulldogs chairman Andrew Smith says that it's been a hard slog to even get to Edinburgh but they are prepared for the challenge.
"When we first heard the draw, we were excited but then reality came in," he said. "How were we going to afford to get up there? It would cost us over £2,000 all told!
"But we've had a few donations thanks to articles in the local papers, Wales Rugby League are also helping us out and we've applied to the RFL to up their donation due to the distance. We're ready to go and we're all looking forward to it.
"We've our strongest team out and they're all available to travel as there's no club rugby union games this weekend. We're going up in two mini-buses early on Saturday morning, hopefully in time to watch the Six Nations game on TV, staying near to the Murrayfield ground and coming back on Sunday following the game. It's a shame that we weren't drawn at home really as it would have been a real Wales v Scotland weekend in the area, but we're prepared to travel and we want to do Wales proud."
Edinburgh's chairman Ashley Carroll, who also stars for their side, is equally looking forward to the encounter.
"This is probably the biggest match in our history," he said. "We got to the second round last year but having a home draw is a massive bonus. Hopefully we can get a decent crowd down to Meggetland, and if our preparation is good and we believe in our ability and talent then I think we can win."
The BBC have confirmed this game as their featured match which kicks off at 12.30pm at Boroughmuir RFC.
Crusaders enter the competition in round four which takes place on the weekend of 17/18 April while the final is at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 28 August.
