England told to forget about trying to steal Chelsea teenager Ethan Ampadu from Wales
The 17-year-old is still eligible to play for the Three Lions
Ethan Ampadu in action for Chelsea (Image: Getty)
Wales assistant manager Osian Roberts has categorically rejected the notion that England could swoop to steal Ethan Ampadu away from the Dragons.
Whilst at Exeter City, the teenager played for both England and Wales at youth level before pinning his colours to Wales' mast, winning their young player of the year award for 2016.
However, there are now rumours that England could try to give Ampadu, who made his senior debut for Wales on Friday, a competitive cap in order to tie his future down to the Three Lions.
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Yet Roberts says Ampadu and David Brooks are Wales players.
He said: "They are Welsh players. Simple as. No story there. They are Welsh players. End of.
"David Brooks has only been with us a few months. Rob Page did a lot of work with him, looking after him in the right way, delighted he is with us.
"There are different pathways for these players. Some have come later, others like Ben Woodburn and Ethan have come all the way from our regional programme aged 12.
"We are extremely proud of that pathway but every pathway is important for us. The important thing is that we increase that pool of players and make it as strong as we possibly can be. The likes of Ethan and Ben have beaten France at under age level so they have got wonderful experiences to draw upon that will only help them in the future.
"We have been happy with what they have been doing in our camps and training for quite a while, 18 months or so. Now it's time for them to take that next step and they have shown tonight they are more than capable of taking that step."
Ethan Ampadu