COBRA Rugby Club’s stars of the future are in action in Italy this weekend.

The Meifod club’s under 15s squad will tour Italy and take part in two tournaments and walk in the footsteps of Welsh rugby legend Carwyn James whose legacy lives on through the junior cup named in his honour.

The former Llanelli and Wales star ended his career in Italy with an annual memorial tournament taking place every year with a Welsh club invited to enter.

This year COBRA will compete in the Carwyn James Under 16s Trophy at the Pieve de Cento Stadium in Ferrara on April 18 and will take on five Italian sides during the event.

Two days later the Montgomery Cup will be contested at the is played in Treviso near Venice in conjunction with the Italian Rugby Federation.

The tournament is held in memory of Kenneth Montgomery, a World War I pilot shot down in the town in 1918 and a former pupil of Rugby School in Warwickshire.

The competition will comprise of COBRA and sides from Romania and Prague against three Italian sides.

The 23 man squad and a group of 25 supporters embarked on their trip in midweek and will also enjoy a day trip to Venice during their stay.

A club spokesman said: “The COBRA players, coaches and families wish to thank their sponsors Alan Jukes Steel Framed Buildings, Cambrian Training, Morgans Newtown and Gwyn Jones Meifod for supporting them and making this wonderful experience possible.

Coach Alun Pryce added: “This is a tremendous opportunity for the COBRA lads to test themselves against some of the best sides in Europe and they are all looking forward to the challenge ahead in Italy.”