Wales Rugby League

Thu 15th July 2010

Wales Students release squad for Championships

Wales Students, with almost a completely new side for 2010...

Wales Students, with almost a completely new side for 2010, travel to Ireland next week to try and retain their British International Students Championship title.

Wales topped the table last year with three wins out of three when the tournament was played in Leeds, beating England 31-16 on the final day.

The four nation international tournament kicks off on Monday with Wales facing their old rivals at 4.30pm followed by the hosts Ireland taking on Scotland.

On Wednesday, it's Wales' turn to meet the hosts with England taking on Scotland before the competition concludes on Friday with Scotland v Wales and England v Ireland.

All games are being played at Young Muster RUFC in Limerick.

Wales have had an outstanding 2010 already, winning the Regional Students Championships against representative sides from counties all over England, and they also reached the Final of the Cheltenham Nines, only to lose to a strong Warrington Wolves side.

And last weekend, they beat the Royal Navy 48-6. Mark Wool led the way with two tries and eight goals, Jonathan Ford and Owen Griffiths also went over the line twice each while Dale Blackmore and Josh Davies were the other try scorers.

They are once again being led by Clive Griffiths, who was Wales national team coach for ten years and assisted Iestyn Harris in the full squad last year when they won the European Cup. Phil Melling makes a welcome return to the Wales Students fold as Team Manager while Cardiff Demons' John Trickey is assistant coach.

Griffiths said: "We go to Ireland with about 16 new caps. There's a big turn around this year as often happens with student sides. This will be a massive challenge for us as we aim to retain our title."

Wales have named a 22-man squad with students spanning the length and breadth of the UK including Owain Brown, who studies at Glyndwr University next door to Crusaders' Wrexham base. It will be their first representative in the Wales Students side.

Full fixtures

Monday 19th July - Wales v England 4.30pm, Scotland v Ireland 6.30pm

Wednesday 21st July - England v Scotland 4.30pm, Ireland v Wales 6.30pm

Friday 23rd July - Scotland v Wales 4.30pm, England v Ireland 6.30pm

WALES SQUAD & NUMBERS

1. Tom Beaumont (Durham University)

2. Dale Blackmore (Deeside College)

3. Dan Blethyn (UWIC)

4. Max Bracken (Bangor University)

5. Owain Brown (Glyndwr University)

6. Josh Davies (UWIC)

7. Dermott Dooley (Swansea University)