WARRINGTON Wolves are playing a part in developing Welsh rugby league talent of the future.

Junior Wire sides faced the East Wales and West Wales Under 16s sides at Victoria Park on Saturday as part of an initiative set up by Paul Berry, the Wales RL head of youth, in conjunction with the Warrington Wolves pathways team.

Former Warrington forward Mike Nicholas MBE, who is president of Wales RL, said this type of event has been advocated for a long time and finally come to fruition.

The move provides up-and-coming prospects in Wales with an opportunity to test themselves against more experienced northern counterparts on the fringe of the Wolves scholarship and academy programmes, giving them a valuable insight into the requirements needed to pursue a successful career in the game.

Nicholas said: “Thanks to the amazing support provided by the hundreds of parents and friends who attended these matches, especially those who had travelled up from East and West Wales without whom this rugby evaluation wouldn't have taken place.

“Let's hope this type of get together can be sustained. The game of rugby league as a whole can only benefit from unearthing the stars of the future.”

On the back of Saturday’s matches, three Welsh players have been invited to Warrington Wolves training.

Nicholas concluded: “That's what we need to do, supply a throughput of promising/prospective players, a Welsh conveyor belt like the mythical outside half factory.”