The Wales U18 squad preparing for the international season which includes the Home Nations Championship in April includes 13 Cardiff Blues players.
The other three regions provide seven players each in a 34 man squad.
Blues High Performance Manager Gafyn Cooper said,
“We are pleased with the high number of Blues U18 players that has been included in the Wales squad. We were unfortunate to miss out on a place in the final in what was a very close and highly competitive WRU Championship season.
“Even though not all results have gone for us, the selectors have watched the boys perform well on a number of occasions in the regional games, so the selection is fully deserved.
“The selection is based upon merit as the players have put in a great deal of effort during the season. The improvement in their performances and this selection is testament to the standard of coaching they receive and the work we are undertaking within the Cardiff Blues region.”
The Blues players included are:
Backs: Ceri Llewellyn, James Egan, Luke Ford, Phil Williams, James Thomas, Rhys Dyer, Gareth Williams
Forwards: Sam Warburton, Jevon Groves, Patrick Palmer, Scott Andrews, Huw Dowden, Tom Price.
There will be practice matches for Wales against French and English regions before the season-opener against Italy U18 (away) on March 12.
France U18 are in Aberavon on March 31 before Wales meet Scotland, Ireland and England in the Home Nations Championship in Gloucestershire from April 15- 21.
Blues age grade regional fixtures in January are:
11th January – Blues U20 v Dragons U20 at Jenner Park
14th January – Blues South U16 v Berkshire County at Llanrumney
18th January – Blues South U16 v Ospreys U16 at Corus
24th January – Scarlets U20 v Blues U20 at Stradey Park
Glamorgan Wanderers face Rumney at St Albans RFC on Saturday (2.15pm) and Aberavon Green Stars meet Glynneath at the Talbot Athletic Ground on Sunday (2.30pm) in the semi-finals of the WRU U19 Cup.