Bridgend Ravens star Gareth David captains the Wales team which jets off to Australia on Tuesday for the Students Rugby League World Cup.

Playing union for Bridgend Ravens, David was the top points scorer in the Principality Premiership last season.

Bridgend borough is clearly the hotbed of rugby league in Wales as it provides the bulk of the squad.

The Celtic Crusaders Colts have five current players and one former player in the squad, which is boosted by others who play both league and union.

From the Crusaders Colts come Barrie Phillips, Lloyd White, Chris Holcombe, Owen Lewis and Lewis Fox.

Among the dual code players, as well as David, are another former Crusader, Grant Epton, West Wales Sharks' Christian Roets, Bridgend Blue Bulls player Craig Fox and Maesteg union centre Jon Rimmer.

Epton played 34 times for the Crusaders last season and scored 16 tries while Lewis has already played twice for the senior Crusaders’ side.

Crusaders Colts coach Dan Clements said: “We’d like to wish all of the players good luck for the tournament in Australia. It’s a great honour to be picked for your country and we hope that all the players do Wales proud.”\

Crusaders chief executive David Thompson added: “It’s wonderful to see so many young Crusaders in the Wales Students squad.

“The youngsters are the future of this club so an experience like this can only be good for them, the Crusaders and Wales.

“It’s testament to the progress the club has made to have so many players who have played international rugby league for Wales at all levels in such a short space of time and we are working towards producing many, many more home-grown international players.”

The squad also has a quality coaching line-up with Clive Griffiths in charge, assisted by Crusaders coach Kevin Ellis.

Wales will be looking to improve on their best ever fourth place finish but they have a tough group.

They play reigning champions New Zealand on July 5, France on July 9 and Ireland on July 13.

Only the top two go through to the semi finals and Griffiths expects some tough opposition.

He said: “We expect every nation to be strong but you do have your obvious few who will be favourites, not just at student level but from juniors right through to seniors.

“Current World Student Champions New Zealand are a formidable side. Then you have three-time student world champions Australia, who don’t know how to lose in any sport, as well as England and France, who have been in the mix since the first World Cup in 1986.

“The southern hemisphere nations are quality opposition with very talented squads but this is a sporting environment and no team is unbeatable.”

Team manager James Davies said: “It’s a great environment to play rugby in and facilities in Australia are second to none.

“For the players this is the opportunity of a lifetime. They will be competing against some of the best up and coming rugby league players on the planet and to test yourself against these lads will only make you a better player.

“It will be an experience that will live with them for the rest of their lives.”


Wales squad: Gareth David (Captain), Jason Mossop, Grant Epton, Daniel Blethyn, Robert Worrincy, David Dyers, Rhys Griffiths, Chris Roets, Lloyd White, Owen Lewis, Craig Fox, Peter Moore, Craig Everett, Barrie Phillips, Lewis Fox, Daniel Smith, John Trickey, Christopher Holcombe, Steven Duggan, Gareth Barron, James Davies, Daniel Wright, Jon Rimmer, Gareth Owen, Simon Perry