Allan Lewis’s side is seeded third for the tournament after beating France in the third place play-off in last year’s competition staged in France.
Lewis, the WRU National Academy Coaching Manager, has taken on the role of head coach and is assisted by Andrew Millward and Dale McIntosh.
Depending on the outcome of tomorrow’s match (2.30pm), the youngsters will play either France or Scotland next Tuesday in either the semi-finals or the fifth to eighth place play-offs.
Only three of last year’s squad are still involved, although all of them are front row players so team manager Gethin Watts is hoping they will help build a solid platform for some attacking play.
“It would be great to build on last year’s performances and we have started our international campaign well with a 19-12 away win in a friendly against Scotland,” he said.
“We have a young squad with only Callum Lewis, Nicky Smith and Elliot Dee surviving from last year’s squad, but we will be looking to rely on their experience in the front row in order to form a strong platform up front to enable our backs to do some running.
“Centre Jack Dixon and full back Hallam Amos have already had senior regional game time with the Dragons, and wing Dafydd Howells is also an exciting player so we are hoping to create some good attacking play.”
Wales Under-18 squad for FIRA-AER Justin Bridou European Championship;
Forwards: Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Guss McPherson (Blues), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Scott Otton (Ospreys), Callum Lewis (Blues), Nicky Thomas (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Dragons), James Sheeky (Blues), Joshua Helps (Scarlets), Ethan Lewis (Blues), Benjamin Roach (Blues), Scott Matthews (Dragons), Calum Davies (Ospreys), James Benjamin (Dragons)
Backs: Luke Crane (Dragons), Shaune Clarke (Blues), Joel Raikes (Blues), Jack Maynard (Scarlets), Gareth Thomson (Blues), Dafydd Howells (Ospreys), Jack Dixon (Dragons), Ben Roberts (Ospreys), Steffan Hughes (Scarlets) Lewis Hudd (Dragons), Hallam Amos (Dragons), Ashley Evans (Ospreys)
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