Narberth RFC is proud of the work being done at the grassroots level at the club. This coming week, two of its Under 16s players are playing for Wales in Rome in a week-long tournament against England, France, Ireland and Italy.

Back-row forward Sion Bennett and scrum-half Connor Lloyd, both Scarlets Under 16s regulars, have been selected for their country following an extensive selection process, which has included being graded and assessed following every Scarlets fixture this season. Following Welsh trials and an anxious wait, they finally heard of their selection after trial games against Wales' regional Under 17s teams.

Proud club coach Clive James says it's nothing short of what they deserve:

"These players have been with Narberth since the age of six and from a club development point of view this is especially satisfying. We have nurtured and developed them through tag, mini and junior rugby to where they are now."

Clive believes it's been a combination of skill-based coaching and maintaining discipline within the age group which has helped them on their way.

"From an early age we concentrated on developing their skills in training and making sure they had the discipline to go with it. To see how both Sion and Connor have developed into fine young men and exceptional rugby players is a credit to them, their parents, but also to the hard work being done at Narberth RFC."

Despite being selected as Welsh captain, if it wasn't for his parents, Sion may not have even played the game.

"I remember Sion at an early age," added James. "He was a tall boy who now and again had to coaxed by his parents Tim and Zena to join in! As well as playing in the back-row, Sion played in the backs also, and I'm sure this versatility has helped him develop an all-round understanding of the game.

"Sion's a very intelligent player with a good rugby brain and it's no coincidence that he has captained the Scarlets U16s all season and is now leading out the Welsh team also."

Sniping scrum-half Connor has made the grade without even knowing what his best position was, yet James was always adamant he would play with a number nine on his back.

"I was certain of what position he was going to end up at, but Connor wasn't! At first he wanted to play scrum-half (which he was always going to be), but then he wanted to play hooker, then outside half, fullback and wing. In fact, he wanted to start in a different position every new season!"

Another player of interest who is in the Wales U16s team is Narberth first-team prop Justin Hughes's nephew, outside-half Jordan Williams, who Clive reckons is heading for the top.

"He's one hell of a player who must have learned a lot from watching his uncle Justin playing!"

"Sion and Connor aren't the only ones from the club who have reached high standards over the season; three other Narberth players have regularly played for the Scarlets Under 16s side in regional games.

"One player who can consider himself desperately unlucky not to be selected for international honours is our centre Gareth Owens, who played in nearly every single Scarlets game.

"Fullback Will Lewis and wing Matthew Richards have also played with distinction at regional level and were part of the Scarlets squad that remained unbeaten in the Reebok Welsh U16s championship.

"Another former Narberth juniors player, number eight Will Holmes, was in the Scarlets' squad before leaving the area last September. He has since joined the Leicester Tigers Academy.

"Despite having five or six of the better players unavailable for long periods of the season, the Otters' young guns have still managed to finish runners-up in the Under 16s league which is a fine achievement considering all the distractions.

"Four of our current Under 15s age group have secured pre-Scarlets Under 16s status too. Flanker Will Boyde, half-back Iwan Bowen-Rees, second-row Josh Helps and flanker Lewis Watling are among the next band of talented youngsters being produced at the club."