WALES were beaten to the Student Four Nations crown in the final game of the tournament on Friday 19th June, despite the best efforts of two Monmouth based players.

Jordan Howells, who plays for Principality Premiership side Ebbw Vale, and Jordan Thomas, of Torfaen Tigers, played a part in the Welsh Four Nations campaign.

Thomas played in the second game of the competition for Wales – a 34-7 win over Scotland – but was injured for the third and final match.

Howells played in both Wales' opening 20-12 win against

Ireland and the final deciding match against England.

Although he got a late try in the England game, it wasn't enough to bring Wales back into the match, with England winning 42-26.

It took 15 minutes for England to break the tough Welsh defence, but when they did, they stamped their authority on the game.

An unconverted Blake Mahovic try gave England the lead in the 15th minute and seven minutes later, Matt Ross, one of three Welsh-born players in the England side, ran over with Ben Stead converting to make it 10-0.

Wales hit back before the half-hour with an unconverted Josh Williams score but it was just respite as Ross, who along with James Mason were initially included in the Wales training squad but then decided to join England, added his second.

Stead converted from the try, before England scored their fourth through Mike Butt, taking the score to 20-4 at the break.

England started the second half as they meant to go on.

Mahovic grabbed his second try and from kick-off, Malakhi Lloyd-Jones added England's sixth which Stead converted to make the score 30-4.

The game looked to be over as a contest but Wales weren't collapsing. As soon as they regained the ball, they grabbed a try back through the outstanding Alec Wheatley. 

Aaron Hall was next over for England with Stead adding the extras before a try scored and converted by Matt Davies brought the score back to 36-14.

That was Hall's last big moment in the game as he, along with Wales' Osian Phillips soon saw red following a brawl.

England's final try was ironically from Cardiff-born Jacob Morgan who now studies in Leeds and thus qualifies for England as well as Wales. Stead's conversion made it 42-14 but Wales scored two late tries to make the score more respectable.

Wheatley, a star in Swansea University's championship winning side this year, grabbed his second, before Jordan Howells' unconverted effort a minute before time, Davies converting both, completed proceedings.

Wales coach Latham Tawhai said: "It was a very good final game. I thought we played well, we won the second half but gave ourselves a bit too much to do after the break.

"It's been a fantastic week, the players have been magnificent and have been great to work with. Hopefully the players will take the experience they've gained back home which will benefit their clubs."