FIVE Gwent prospects have been named in the Wales Under-18s side to face their English counterparts in Pontypridd on Sunday.

The Welsh youngsters enjoyed a last-gasp win against Scotland at Murrayfield a fortnight ago and will hope to stay in a winning groove at Sardis Road (kick-off 4.15pm).

Coleg Gwent’s Deon Smith starts in midfield while his school teammate Taylor Hansen gets the nod at loosehead prop with Newport High’s Luke Yendle at tighthead.

Newport High scrum-half Dafydd Buckland is among the replacements with Coleg Gwent back Evan Lloyd also on the bench.

Head coach Geraint Lewis has rung the changes from Edinburgh to give plenty of squad members a chance to impress before the inaugural U18 Six Nations festival in Ystrad Mynach and Cardiff Arms Park over Easter.

Wales U18 triumphed in the corresponding fixture against England last year at Eugene Cross Park in an entertaining encounter that featured a large number of players who progressed to the U20s this year.

"This is a really valuable fixture for both teams in terms of exposing individuals to a high standard of rugby," said Lewis.

"We saw that last year, and for us to be able to pitch our players against some of the best players in England at this age group is a huge challenge which we look forward to."

Tickets for Sunday's game can be bought at the gate for £5 (adults), while U16s go free.

Wales U18 team to face England

15 Ioan Davies (Glantaf)
14 Louis Rees-Zammit (Hartpury)
13 Deon Smith (Coleg Gwent)
12 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (Neath-Port Talbot College)
11 Ben Cambriani (Gower College)
10 Sam Costelow (Oakham School)
9 Ellis Bevan (Bryanston)
1 Taylor Hansen (Coleg Gwent)
2 Dom Booth (Coleg Sir Gar)
3 Luke Yendle (Newport High)
4 Lewis Jameson (Whitchurch High)
5 Jac Price (Coleg Sir Gar)
6 Iestyn Rees (c) (Ysgol Bro Dinefwr)
7 Callun James (Coleg y Cymoedd)
8 Rhys Davies (Coleg y Cymoedd)

Replacements

16 Morgan Nelson (Hartpury)
17 Charlie Brabham (Filton)
18 Archie Griffin (Marlborough)
19 Teddy Williams (Glantaf)
20 Jac Morgan (Coleg Sir Gar)
21 Dafydd Buckland (Newport High)
22 Evan Lloyd (Coleg Gwent)
23 Osian Knott (Coleg Sir Gar)