What happened in Wales v England age-grade clash to give Welsh rugby shot in the arm

Wales Under-18s may have let victory against England Under-18s slip through their fingers in Parma yesterday but there was plenty to be encouraged about from a Welsh perspective.

At one stage Richie Pugh’s side led 35-29 against an enormous England side before a late George Knowles try at the death followed by a difficult conversion from James Linegar broke Welsh hearts to give the Red Rose a 36-35 victory in the first round of the under-18s men’s Six Nations Festival. Wales have struggled for results at age-grade level for a few years but those in the upper echelons of Welsh rugby are optimistic at the potential of this under-18s side.

Of course, you can’t definitively judge any player at such a young age, especially when games at under-18s level are only 7src minutes long, but there was plenty to admire from this young Wales side. They were up against an extremely powerful and explosive England pack but they were not found wanting.

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