SCRUM-HALF Sam Jones, who plays for Malvern U17 Pirates, has been called up for trials by the Welsh Exiles this weekend.

Jones, who travels from Staunton in Gloucestershire to play and train with the Pirates, has enjoyed a very successful season during which he was selected to play for the North Midlands RFU U17s.

Gary Tolley, the Pirates' coach, said: "Sam (Jones) is one of five ex-Monmouth players who joined Malvern at the end of last season when the Gwent-based club was unable to find support for an U17s side. Along with his four fellow 'exiles', Sam has played a pivotal role in the success of the Pirates this season and this has obviously caught the eye of the selectors, who are holding regular training throughout the summer for next season's Wales and Exiles U18 squad."

The Welsh Exiles organisation was established in 1990 to search for Welsh players, or players of Welsh ancestry living and playing rugby outside the principality. With the advent of professionalism the role of the Exiles changed and, today they concentrate their resources on searching for talented boys at U15 to U18 level

Boys are invited to train with the Gwent Region and encouraged to progress to international level.