THE IRB U19 World Championships are no more than six weeks away and Wales start their preparations on Friday when they play Ireland at Stradey Park (KO 7 15 pm), writes Huw S Thomas.

A number of local boys are in action, headed by Amman Valley CS and Scarlets full-back Daniel Evans who has been playing regular rugby for Llanelli in the Principality Premiership.

There is a place for Llandovery's new signing Gruffudd Jones - a former pupil of Bro Myrddin and later Wellington College - made his debut for the Drovers two weeks against Neath and scored a fine try.

Coleg Sir Gar pupils flankers Nicholas Cudd and Josh Turnbull, lock Haydn Pugh and centre Richard de Filippo are also selected as are two former students in centre Rhys Williams and flanker Lloyd Phillips.

As an U18 side Wales beat Ireland 35-14 last year in the Home Nations Tournament at neutral Lydney and U19 coach Justin Burnell will be disappointed with anything but a win this time round.

"The boys have been working hard to get themselves mentally and physically ready for the next testing two months" said Burnell.

"Friday will give us an indication of where we are in our run up to the Junior World Cup on Belfast in early April."

Most of the side that beat Ireland at Lydney last year are in the squad for Friday's game and include the captain on that occasion No 8 Sam Warburton.

Warburton is still in school at Whitchurch HS but has been playing most of his rugby in the Principality Premiership with Glamorgan Wanderers.

He was recently named Premiership Player of the Month and is one of a number of players with Premiership experience.

Almost all the backs have tasted semi-pro rugby including a quartet of schoolboys in Daniel Evans Neath wing Leigh Halfpenny (Swansea College), Ebbw Vale fly-half David Langdon (Brynmawr HS), Bridgend scrum-half Rhys Webb.

Coach Burnell is still to finalise the squad for Friday, but it is likely to be very close to the one announced some weeks ago with eight Ospreys, eight Scarlets, six Blues and four Dragons