FIVE Gwent youngsters have been selected for the Welsh under-18s schools squad to play the Republic of Ireland at Cefn Druids on Thursday.

Llanwern High School trio Jesse Victory, Lewis Jones and Tre Marrett are joined by Duffryn High pupil Ben Jones and Ross Davies of Fairwater High in Cwmbran.

Victory, Lewis Jones and Marrett are all part of the Newport County AFC Academy system.

Together with Davies they were all in the squad that beat Australia Schools 3-2 at Llanwern High in January.

Victory captained the side on that day and Lewis Jones set up the decisive third goal scored by Davies.

Thursday’s match at The Rock (kick-off 7pm) is Wales’ first in the 2014 Centenary Shield competition.

Wales next face England in Wrexham on Friday, March 14, Scotland in Hamilton on Thursday, March 20, and Northern Ireland at Knockbreda on Wednesday, April 16.