Wales to play RGC before tour in summer

WALES will play Principality Premiership side RGC in a warm-up match ahead of their matches against Tonga and Samoa this summer.

The game is part of a six-day training camp in Colwyn Bay aimed at preparing the squad, which will be led by Robin McBryde, for the two-Test tour.

Wales will travel to North Wales on Saturday, May 28 and play RGC on June 2.

“We are delighted to be heading to North Wales this summer,” said McBryde.

“The camp will be the first week the whole squad for the tour convene after their respective regional and club commitments so we will be looking to hit the ground running.

“We received a fantastic welcome to North Wales on our last visit as part of our Rugby World Cup preparation in 2015 and I’m delighted that we are able to return once again.

“The North Wales community welcomed us with open arms on our last visit and they have taken Wales U20 under their wing so it’s great to be able to take the national squad back to North Wales.

“The facilities are great at Parc Eirias and will provide us with the exactly what we are looking for in terms of a training camp.

“With preparation for the tour at a premium it was vital we had the opportunity to have a proper run-out as a squad and I’d like to thank Mark Jones and Sion Jones from RGC in accepting the invitation for a game.

“Not only will the match be hugely important for the squad off the field, it will be a great spectacle to see RGC line-up against the Welsh side and a huge opportunity for all those players.”

RGC coach Mark Jones added: “This fixture is a fantastic opportunity for RGC and North Wales rugby to help Wales prepare for their important up and coming tour.

“Perhaps even more importantly for me, it shows how far we’ve come as a Development Region.

Players who have come right through the pathway in North Wales will have the ultimate honour – the chance to play against our National Team, demonstrating the pathway now in place for North Wales players to develop to a very high level.”