Pembrokeshire College rugby academy student Tom Slater has been selected for the British Colleges summer rugby tour to New Zealand.

Tom, who is 18 and from Broad Haven, is in his second year at the college and plays prop for the academy team, for Haverfordwest Youth and for Llanelli Scarlets under 18s.

He is one of only seven Welsh players in the tour squad of 26. Two of the four fixtures will be played in Auckland and Rotorua where the Lions will be playing.

Since joining the college rugby academy Tom's progress has been rapid. "To begin with, the college helped me get into the Scarlets' team and we beat the Ospreys under 18s at the Millennium Stadium in the group final in April.

"Then the college put me in for the Welsh Colleges trial and after this I was selected for the match against England Colleges and now I'm going to New Zealand with the British Colleges.

"It's been an amazing two years. The college academy has helped me immensely because of its professionalism and high standard of coaching."

Tom is studying engineering and business at the college. Pass rates for vocational courses at the college average 92% so he will gain some useful qualifications to go alongside his rugby ambitions.

"My immediate aim is to do well on the tour and get into the Scarlets' under 20s team next season. I would recommend anyone with rugby ambitions to find out what the college academy has to offer."

Academy coach Kenny Davies said: "Tom has worked really hard for two years and has developed into an excellent rugby player through the college academy.

All of his team-mates wish him the best of luck on tour and look forward to hearing how it went when he gets back."

For more information about Pembrokeshire College and how it connects to the Scarlets, call admissions on 0800 716236.