Twelve current or former apprentices have been included in Wales and Scotland’s squads for the upcoming Under-20s Toulon Tournament.
Jack Ruddy (formerly Bury), Alex Iacovitti (Nottingham Forest), Zak Jules (Reading) and Jordan Holsgrove (Reading) have all been selected to represent Scotland.
Meanwhile, Luke Pilling (Tranmere Rovers), Regan Poole (formerly Newport County), Cameron Coxe (Cardiff), Aron Davies (Fulham), Cian Harries (Coventry), Rhys Abbruzzese (Cardiff), Mark Harris (Cardiff) and George Thomas (Coventry) will wear Welsh colours.
Of the present apprentices, Holsgrove has earned a Scotland call-up after a string of impressive performances for the Royals’ Under-23 team.
The highly-rated 17-year-old was even nominated for Premier League 2 Player of the Month for March and recently penned his first professional contract at the Madejski Stadium.
In the Welsh ranks, Cardiff pair Coxe and Harris have forced their way into the squad despite still being second-year apprentices.
Harris has made the biggest impact out of the two by featuring in Neil Warnock’s senior side on three occasions this term, including a first Championship start in a goalless draw at Wigan at the end of April.
Elsewhere, full-back Coxe is yet to make his senior bow having been at the club since the age of seven, although he has made an impression as a regular in Craig Bellamy’s Under-23 outfit.
Wales open their group against France on May 30 before taking on Bahrain and Ivory Coast, while Scotland will play Brazil and Indonesia after starting with Czech Republic on May 31.
