photo by Ian Lovell

At whatever level and in whatever sport the game is played, to face England is one of the pinnacles of any Welshman’s sporting career.

No more so than rugby league right now. Gone are the days when Wales had to bring in a multitude of union imports, now the game has solid junior foundations in Wales and this was proved on Friday night as Wales fielded nine players aged under 22, six of whom were making their senior debut.

Wales’ last victory against England at this level was back in 1995 when current Crusaders and Wales assistant coach Kevin Ellis was man of the match in an 18-16 thriller at Ninian Park.

However at most other levels of rugby league it has been Wales

who have been the dominant force and, thanks to injuries to nine first choice Welshmen, many of those young success stories were rewarded this evening with their first full international call up.

The passion of the Welsh side was evident even before the kick-off as EVERY member of the Welsh playing and coaching staff, including Australian coach John Dixon, accurately belted out “Mae hen wlad fy nhadau” with the enthusiasm that our great national anthem deserves.

However passion doesn’t win matches and England’s experience proved too much for Wales’ youth as they went down 74-0 in a rugby league lesson at the Keepmoat Stadium that was watched by 11,263, the second highest attendance of an England v Wales match since 1991.

New skipper David Mills was centimetres from crossing the English line in the first five minutes but was stopped short, and as they regained possession, England made their chance count as Rob Purdham .....

Full article here