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The Wales U18s summer camp took place earlier this week, with two of our very own youth players featuring in the line-up.

Harrison Nixon (left) and Tom Bowen (right), both from Abercynon, were named in head coach Richie Pugh’s 30-man squad to play in the camp which culminated in a summer festival of rugby on Friday 11^th August at Cardiff Arms Park, with Ireland, Scotland, and Italy also taking part.

The summer festival consisted of 30 minute long non-capped games, with Nixon scoring a try against Scotland, and Bowen also getting over the line to score in the final game against Italy.

“Being involved in an international camp was a new experience for me, and it was an honour to represent my country against some of the top nations,” Nixon said.

Based at Cardiff University, the summer camp was the first opportunity for the coaching team to decide on which players are likely to make the U18s squad next season – with all teams living and training together for the week.

Each day saw teams linked with a different country to share training experiences and go up against the opposition in a professional training environment.

“Our training was very structured and detailed. Living together for the week really allowed us to gel well together as a squad, as well as getting to know players from the different regions,” Nixon said.

“I learned a lot from each session which I feel can improve myself as an individual and my game going forward.”

Tom Bowen, whose father Gareth played professionally for the Scarlets, said: “It was a great learning experience going up against top opposition in training all week. It was highly competitive which brought the best out of all of us.

“After getting capped last year, I could really see an improvement in my game this time. Working with the likes of Gareth Wyatt (backs coach) and Richie Pugh was really exciting and I always learn something new from them.”

Speaking to the WRU, Pugh said of the team: “It’s their first opportunity of getting that taste of international rugby and exposure to another level. It’s the first time to get to know the boys, for them to get to know each other, and to get to know us as coaches before the real season starts.”

Next up for the boys is a residential training camp in October, before further training sessions in preparation for the U18 Six Nations tournament in Italy.

(Wrote by Gareth Williams)