The Ospreys Under 18 side will start their season with a friendly in Franklin Gardens this weekend.
While their senior team counterparts step up their pre-season activities with a trip to Worcester, the young Ospreys also get their season underway on Friday night against the Northampton Saints age grade team.
The training squad, selected from players in the second year of 18's age grade as well as players transitioning from Under 16 level, has been working hard over the summer and it is from this training squad that a travelling party has been selected with final selection to be made on Friday
The Ospreys U18s travelling squad selected to face the Northampton Saints at Franklin Gardens, kick off 7pm:
Morgan Jones
Tom Howell
Garin Lougher
Gareth Thomas
Ewan Gully
James Roberts
Llyr Davies
Phil Jones
James Davies
Ruben Morgan-Williams
Harry Davies
Adam Nation
Sam Matthews
James Tanner
Lewys Bullock
Kurt Westron
Liam Owens
Sam James
Matthew Davies
James Osborne
Jack Pope
James Ratti
Matthew Bennett
Joe Lewis
Mitchell Walsh
Charlie Davies
Jacob Blackmore
Jack Davies
Will Jones
Ben Davies
Following their trip to Northampton, the Eyasses will also face another challenging test as they will welcome the Worcester Warriors age grade side at Llandarcy Academy of Sport on Wednesday 20th August at 2pm, as Elite Performance Manager Dan Griffiths explains:
“"We wanted to put together a tough pre-season for our players so we've been working with teams from across the border to give our boys the experience of and the chance to play against different brands and styles of rugby. Previously our squads have really benefitted from playing in different tournaments against teams like Saracens so this year playing Northampton and Worcester will be a really great chance for the boys to test themselves at a high level.
“The players have really been working hard over the last few weeks in training and are all really looking forward to the challenges they will face in these two games. It’s an ideal opportunity to put their hands up and show us what they can do before we select a RAG squad later in the year."
Admission at Franklin's Gardens is free so if any exiled Ospreys supporters living in the area fancy popping along to support the next generation we look forward to seeing you there.