CWMBRAN Celtic’s Alex Bonthron is set for European action as part of the Tîm Rhanbarthol Cymru squad.
Andy Hill has named a 16-man group for the intermediate round of the 2024/25 UEFA Regions’ Cup after the south of Wales beat their northern rivals 4-1 on aggregate in May.
The UEFA Regions’ Cup is a unique amateur tournament held every two years which features players who have never competed at any professional level.
All of the intermediate round matches for Tîm Rhanbarthol Cymru (Wales' regional team) will take place in Serbia, beginning against West Slovakia on Friday before they face FA of Vojvodina on Monday and North Macedonia Amateur next Thursday.
The winner of the group will progress to finals, which are set to be held in the first two weeks of either June or July 2025 and hosted by one of the qualifiers.
To be available for selection for Tîm Rhanbarthol Cymru, players must never have signed a professional contract and never have played a single minute in any top-flight league. They must be at least 19 years old and no older than 40.
Players do not need to be Welsh but must have been registered in their region for a period of at least two years.
Bonthron earned selection for the play-offs after a superb campaign for Celtic in which he topped the Cymru South goal chart with 30 strikes, then he added to his effort for the season by scoring against the north Walians.
The forward, who has scored three in the league so far this season, is joined in the squad by former Cwmbran teammate Lewis Iles, who is now with Llanelli Town.
Celtic will have to cope without their marksman while he is European action with a home game against Goytre United on Saturday.
Simon Berry’s side lost a dramatic clash at Baglan Dragons 4-3 last weekend to drop into the bottom three at this early stage of the season while Goytre are sixth, one point off top spot.
Cwmbran’s Gwent rivals are on the road on Saturday with Newport City heading west to face Carmarthen Town while Trethomas Bluebirds make the shorter trip to Pontypridd United.
Tîm Rhanbarthol Cymru: Dion Carroll (South Gower), Jack Lansdown (Llantwit Major), Jamie Baker (Afan Lido), Lewis Holmes (Baglan Dragons), Ross Hooper (Cefn Cribwr), Thomas Krauze (Trefelin), Noah Osborne (Swansea University), Cam Strinati (Carmarthen Town), Josh Allen (Cambrian United), Jack Ashford (Caerau Ely), Joe Hopkins (Llanelli Town), Joe Shephard (Caerau Ely), Alex Bonthron (Cwmbran Celtic), Liam Eason (Pontypridd United), Cian Goldsworthy (Trefelin), Matty Kimmins (Llantiwt Major), Lewis Iles (Llanelli Town), Roan Piper (Trefelin).
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