Eight students from across Caerphilly have been selected for the 32-man Wales students’ training squad for the rugby league student four nations in July.
The students selected are Rhys Gant, Ashley Bateman, Dafydd Hellard and Lloyd Bodman from Ystrad Mynach College and Brandon Aviet, Morgan Cochran and Matthew Morgan from Coleg y Cymoedd and Morgan Evans from Caerphilly, but goes to Bath University.
The student Four Nations will be held in Wales for the first time since 2012 and the tournament will be played in South Wales between July 16 and July 22.
The competition is held annually and Wales last won the title when they were hosts six years’ ago.
They also won the trophy the last time the competition was held in South Wales, back in 2004.
Head coach Paul Emanuelli said: “Firstly congratulations to all 32 that have been selected, the first training and selection day was a great success with a fantastic turn out with some real quality rugby players.
“The decision to cut the squad to 32 has been extremely tough so dropping it to 20 ready for the Four Nations in July is going to give Chris Vitalini and I some serious headaches.
“As I told the lads at the trial, the door isn’t closed for anyone and people will be added and cut as we see fit.
“I’m looking forward to the next few sessions now and seeing how we come together, as well as getting an opportunity to look at the six players we’ve invited along who were injured for the first session.
“The squad has got a great mix of quality youngsters and a sprinkling of experienced players like Ash Bateman and Morgan Evans who can help them all along.”