Posted by Wales U20 head coach Gareth Williams has named a fairly inexperienced side for the upcoming U20 Six Nations, along with appointing some talented young coaches to assist him.
Only eight of the 33-man squad are second year players at this level with a number of key members of the squad in recent years having graduated the age grade system after last summer’s World Rugby U20 Championship.
The likes of Dewi Lake, Tommy Reffell, Harri Morgan, Cai Evans, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Rio Dyer and Ryan Conbeer have gone on to get plenty of game time at their clubs and regions in the first half of the season, with their replacements in the U20 squad looking to follow in their footsteps.
Jac Morgan will captain the squad after impressing in the back row last season, and is joined up front by fellow second years Ben Warren at tighthead, Will Griffiths at hooker, Jac Price in the second row and Ioan Rhys Davies also in the back row.
In the backs there is a potential second year 9, 10, 12 combination with Dafydd Buckland at scrum-half, Sam Costelow at fly-half and Anuerin Owen at inside centre.
Perhaps the best known name in the squad is Ioan Lloyd, the young Bristol Bears fly-half who has made 10 appearances across the Gallagher Premiership and European Challenge Cup scoring 40 points so far this season, although his availability may depend on how Pat Lam intends to use him during the international window.
Elsewhere there are call-ups for former Wales U18 captain Ben Carter at second row, Luke Scully who is making a name for himself at Worcester, and Dan John, son of former Cardiff Blues coach Paul John, who is currently at Millfield.
They will be coached by Gareth Williams and his new assistant coaches as Gethin Jenkins looks after the defence and Richard Fussell will lead the attack. Richard Kelly remains in his role as forwards coach.
It is the start of a big year for the U20s as the Six Nations campaign will lead on to the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy in June, with Wales having been drawn in an extremely tough group alongside New Zealand, Australia and Georgia.
Wales U20 squad for Six Nations 2020
Backs: Dan John (Millfield School), Josh Thomas (Ospreys), Ewan Rosser (Dragons), Callum Williams (Scarlets), Harri Doel (Scarlets), Bradley Roderick(Ospreys), Aneurin Owen (Dragons), Osian Knott (Scarlets), Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers), Luke Scully (Worcester), Jacob Beetham (Cardiff Blues), Ioan Lloyd (Bristol), Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Met), Dafydd Buckland (Dragons)
Forwards: Travis Huntley (Ospreys), Morgan Strong (Ospreys), Gwilym Bradley (Cardiff Blues), Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues), Jac Morgan (Scarlets – CAPT), Benji Hoppe (Dragons), James Fender (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Ospreys), Ben Carter (Dragons), Jac Price (Scarlets), Theo Bevacqua (Cardiff Blues), Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), Callum Williams (Scarlets), Archie Griffin (Bath), Harri O Connor (Scarlets), Dylan Bartlett (Dragons), Dom Booth (Scarlets), Will Griffiths (Dragons), Brodie Coghlan (Dragons)
Wales U20 Six Nations fixtures
Friday 31st January 2020 – Wales vs Italy, Zipworld Stadium, KO 19:35
Fri 7 February 2020 – Ireland v Wales, Irish Independent Park, KO 19:15
Friday 21st February 2020 – Wales vs France, Zipworld Stadium, KO 19:35
Friday 13th March 2020 – Wales vs Scotland, KO 19:35
Fri 6 March 2020 – England v Wales, Kingsholm KO 19:45
Cardiff Rugby Life 