AN UP-AND-COMING rugby player from Ellesmere is in the Wales squad taking part in the Rugby League Universities World Cup in Australia.

Sam Owen is part of a 24-man squad who will compete at this month’s Rugby League Universities World Cup.

The former Ellesmere College pupil, who is now studying PE at Leeds Trinity University, said: “It was a great feeling to be named in the Wales team and it was even sweeter to be named in the 34-man training squad with my teammates, who I’ve played with at Trinity for the last three years.

“It is going to take a lot of hard work but I am looking forward to the tournament and testing myself against the likes of New Zealand, England and Scotland in the group stages.”

The Welsh squad contains a number of professional players as well as two have also won full caps for Wales – Paul Emanuelli who played for Wales in 2014 and Morgan Evans of Gloucestershire All Golds who is now an established regular in the Welsh national side and could potentially make two trips to Australia next year.

Evans’ All Golds teammate Liam Rice-Wilson joins him in the squad, while South Wales Ironmen contribute eight players in Cobi Green, Ethan Coombes, Huw Parks, Lewis Hughes, Jordan Sheridan, Lloyd Selby-Smith, Macauley Harris and Sam Buckthought.

Former South Wales first team players Connor Davies, Curtis Davies and Sion Jones (now all with Halifax), Marcus Webb (Hunslet), Jamie Murphy (Bridgend Ravens RU) and Jordan Howells (Ebbw Vale RU) are also included as is Matt Davies from North Wales Crusaders.