Young Scarlet to captain Wales Under 18 in South Africa

Scarlets second row forward Josh Helps will captain Wales Under 18 on their upcoming three match tour of South Africa.

Allan Lewis’ side fly to Johannesburg next week for clashes with France, England and South Africa, games which will give some of the squad their first taste of international rugby.

Helps leads a 27-strong playing squad, and is one of eight Scarlets, which will be hoping to emulate the success of last year’s tour.

Scarlets Academy Manager Kev George said: “The eight representing the Scarlets on Wales’ tour to South Africa will have an opportunity to gain experience on an international level and further strengthen their regional development.

“Josh will lead the squad from the front as a second row who has a very high work rate and good abilities around the field. He has showed great maturity since joining the Scarlets academy at the age of 16 and is focused on continuing with his rugby development as well as his education at Swansea University.

“Tours like these are vital to give young players a taste of international rugby and the eight players representing the Scarlets will gain valuable experience which they’ll be able to bring back with them and transfer to regional age grade fixtures and the academy in the coming season.”

The Wales Under 18’s trips to South Africa are a vital tool in giving young players the chance to experience the preparation which comes with international rugby. Many of the Wales Under 20 squad which reached the final of this summer’s Junior World Championship in France had previously toured South Africa with the Under 18’s.

First up for Wales is a clash with France on August 9 before a meeting with England in George just four days later. The tour then concludes against South Africa at the Boland Stadium in Wellington on August 17.

Wales Under 18 squad for South Africa tour:

Backs: Steffan Evans (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Scarlets), Ashton Hewitt (Newport Gwent Dragons), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Aled Summerhill (Cardiff Blues), Garyn Smith (Cardiff Blues), Joe Thomas (Ospreys), Angus O’Brien (Newport Gwent Dragons), Luke Price (Ospreys), Dan Jones (Scarlets), Dan Brooks (Ospreys), Tom Williams (Cardiff Blues).

Forwards: Keagan Bale (Newport Gwent Dragons), Luke Garrett (Newport Gwent Dragons), Leon Crump (Cardiff Blues), Torin Myhill (Scarlets), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Alex Jeffreys (Newport Gwent Dragons), Javan Sebastian (Scarlets), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Rory Thornton (Ospreys), Josh Helps (Scarlets & Captain), Oliver Hitchings (Cardiff Blues), Tom Phillips (Scarlets), Jon Fox (Ospreys), Jordan Collier (Ospreys), Oliver Griffiths (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Wales Under 18 fixtures:

France: August 9, City Park Stadium, Athlone. Kick-off 14.00.

England: August 13, Outeniqua Park, George. Kick-off 14.00.

South Africa: August 17, Boland Stadium, Wellington. Kick-off 15.30.

All kick-off times are South African time.