WALES WIN FOURTH U16 FOUR NATIONS TITLE

22 Jun 2026

Wales remain unbeaten in the U16s Four Nations Championship, picking up their fourth successive title when they defeated England 30-10 in a winner-takes-all clash at the Gnoll in Neath. 
Loose forward Rhys Wood led them to glory with two tries in a dominant second half, after the hosts led 10-4 at the break.

Wales U16s head coach, Tom Marsh, commented: “It’s a brilliant result, England were really tough with their greater experience but our lads stuck to their task and dealt with it amazingly. We give lads great opportunities and letting them see professional environments and they have really bought into it, they’ve been training since January and amazing all year.

“There’s a pathway there and the talent we’ve got in South Wales is fantastic.”

Wales took the lead in the seventh minute, prop Danny Jones creating a try for Max Phillips who dived over in the corner. England levelled through winger Jaden Udegbe with the first of his two tries, spurning another opportunity soon after when spilling the ball diving for the line.

The hosts were back in front when stand off Jack Parrott cleverly offloaded to Leighton Clarke, Parrott converting with the first of his three goals. Wales started the second period impressively, Alfie Davies and Mason Lewis crossing in quick succession, Wood then claiming his brace.

The only black mark for the Welsh were two dismissals, Danny Jones with his second red card of the tournament for a head butt and, after the final whistle, Cyrus Owen-Green shown one for striking.

WALES 30
Scott Hewitt, Rhys Anthony, Leighton Clarke, Max Phillips, Alfie Davies, Jack Parrott, Kelyn Jude-Hobbs, Danny Jones, Zac Nottingham, Cyrus Owen-Green, Mason Lewis, Charlie Eatly (c), Rhys Wood
Subs: Morgan Jones, Frazer Redman, Will Mordecai, Caden Templar, Jack Field, Charlie Noakes

Tries: Phillips (7), Clarke (32), Davies (41), Lewis (47), Wood (54, 65)
Goals: Parrott 3/6
Sent off: D. Jones (67 – head butt), Owen-Green (70 - striking)

ENGLAND 10
Josh Evans, Jaden Udegbe, Jonah Carter, Billy-Buster Knight, Kyle Johnson, Jack Bowden, Mason Leaf, Conner Tyson, Michael Lyons, Marley Taylor-Harrop (c), Charlie Wood, Ryan Cunliffe, Ellis Dockerty
Subs: Nathan Green, Harry Waddington, MJ Morris, Oli Lockett, Connor Sutcliffe, Warren Craig

Tries: Udegbe (13, 61)
Goals: Carter 0/1, Bowden 1/1

Referee: Kristoff Young

Half time: 10-4

In the other encounter on the final weekend of competition, Scotland opened and closed the scoring but Ireland were the stronger side throughout, winning 34-14 in Hawick.

Blair Murray crossed for the home side in the ninth minute, but the Irish were 18-4 ahead at the interval courtesy of touchdowns by Oscar Bradley, Callum McDonald and Noah Walsh, each of which Joseph Clarke improved.

Clarke went over twice on the resumption to finish with an 18-point haul, and Bradley claimed his second score on 52 minutes. Scotland posted consolation touchdowns by Jay Cruikshank and Murray again, with Reece McAdam adding a conversion.

SCOTLAND 14
Carter Shields, Blair Murray, William Porter, Alfie Scudder, Alfie Haase, Georgie McDermott, Reece McAdam, Rowan Doyle, Brodie Butters-McNaught, Jay Cruickshank, Kyle Alcock, Charlie Kelly, Ewan Smith
Subs: Conlan Goodall, Jamie Carnaby, Bradley Lowthorpe, Lewis McConnachie, Lachlan McKelvey, Alfie Nairn, Jayden Johnstone

Tries: Murray (9, 64), Cruickshank (68)
Goals: McAdam 1/3

IRELAND 34
James Clarke, Laoch Leonard, Noah Walsh, Joe Clarke, Nathan Melia, Charlie Ross, Lucas Flynn, Paddy White, Emjay Leslie, Harvey English, Callum McDonald, Rua McNamara, Kian Roberts
Subs: Evan Cunningham, Aaron Rothwell, Max Cooney, Conor Meadows, Oscar Bradley, Alex Birrell

Tries: Bradley (15, 52), McDonald (22), Walsh (27), Clarke (38, 60)
Goals: Clarke 5/6

Referee: Jordan Robinson

Half time: 4-18

U17 INTERNATIONAL

England had too much experience for Wales in an U17 friendly fixture at the Gnoll, the visitors winning 46-4.

They took an early lead when Mason Hunter forced his way over in the corner, converting his own try, but it took until ten minutes before half-time for them to score their second, Rio York crossing with Hunter converting to give England a 12-0 lead at the break.

England were a lot stronger in the second half, York, and Hunter each registering their second touchdown. Josh Williams claimed England's fifth try, Will Steen goaling, Zach Dennett then crossing in the corner and, from kick-off, York completing his hat-trick.

Wales gained reward for their efforts with six minutes to go, Ben Foskett over between the posts and Elliott Williams landing the conversion, but England had the final say when Zac Law scored their eighth try.

WALES 6 
Finley Hook, Ben Foskett, Rylie Probert, Finley Bosanko-Sheady, Elliott Williams, Ronan Parry (c), Ruben Main, Lewis Mathias, Zach Robbins, Will Dawkins, Joseff Keating, Ali Al Jassem, Jayden Coxe 
Subs (all used): Charlie Burrows, Harry Price, Keilan Harris, Evan Trott, Alan Delegiewicz, Dewi Thomas, Thomas Hayden, Dylan Little

Try: Foskett (75)
Goal: Elliott 1/1

ENGLAND LIONS 46 
Josh Williams, Zac Law, Ben Farrimond, Rob Steel, Teshawn Marima, Mason Hunter, Will Steen, Adam Marsh, Jack Worthington, Zach Dennett, Kaled Crosby, Jayden Dennis, Eddie Calvin
Subs (all used): Jenson Bamber, Freddie Isherwood, Roman Allott, Rio York, Ryu McDermott

Tries: Hunter (9, 49), York (30, 45, 70), Williams (57), Dennett (67), Law (77)
Goals: Hunter 4/4, Steen 3/4

Referee: Craig Davies

Half time: 0-12