Wales claimed a first U20 RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam since 2005 with a 35-6 win over Italy.
At half time the scores were just 6-6 as a nervy Wales side allowed Italy to dominate proceedings, but a stunning 29 unanswered second half points, including tries from Shaun Evans, Joe Thomas, and a brace from Harrison Keddie, saw them charge to the Grand Slam.
Over in France, England fell to a fourth defeat of the tournament, having already lost to Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. A 41-17 loss to France was not what the men in white were looking for as they sought valuable momentum ahead of June’s World Rugby U20 Championships, which will be held on home turf in Manchester.
Ireland meanwhile made it three wins from three, as they beat a Scotland side who had previously beaten England and Italy. In a tight affair Ireland led just 13-12 at the break but pulled away amidst a spate of Scottish injuries to win the game 26-18.
The day was, in reality, all about Wales and that Grand Slam though, and the momentum that it gives them ahead of a tough U20 World Championship pool that includes Ireland, Georgia, and reigning champions New Zealand.
Speaking after the game, Head Coach Jason Strange said:
“Our ball control was much better in the second half and we showed some composure. They showed tremendous character after a really nervy first-half. I’m delighted for the players – they once again showed great commitment and heart.”
Captain Tom Phillips spoke of his pride in the achievement and the players:
“This is amazing. When you are young you always train hard to aspire to get involved in moments like this – it will take some time to sink in.”
“We have been confident from the start of this tournament and we have pushed ourselves on and off the field. Italy came and gave us a difficult time in the first half and we had a major talking to at half-time. I couldn’t be prouder and the crowds in Colwyn Bay for all three games have been phenomenal. They gave everything in their support for us and really helped us.”
U20 RBS 6 Nations Final Table:
| Pos | Team | W | D | L | Points |
| 1 | Wales | 5 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2 | France | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | Ireland | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | Scotland | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | England | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 6 | Italy | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
U20 RBS 6 Nations – Round 6 Teams
England U20 XV:
15 Max Malins (Saracens)
14 George Perkins (Saracens)
13 Dominic Morris (Saracens)
12 George Worth (Leicester Tigers)
11 Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby)
10 Mathew Protheroe (Gloucester Rugby)
9 Max Green (Yorkshire Carnegie)
1 Lewis Boyce (Yorkshire Carnegie)
2 Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors)
3 Will Stuart (Wasps)
4 Huw Taylor (Worcester Warriors)
5 Andrew Kitchener (Worcester Warriors)
6 George Nott (Sale Sharks)
7 Jack Willis (Wasps)
8 Callum Chick (Newcastle Falcons) (c)
Replacements:
16 Curtis Langdon (London Irish)
17 Tom West (Wasps)
18 Jake Pope (Sale Sharks)
19 Alex Moon (Northampton Saints)
20 Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby)
21 Cameron Cowell (England Sevens)
22 Charlie Thacker (Leicester Tigers)
23 Sam Aspland-Robinson (Harlequins)
Wales U20 XV:
15 Rhun Williams (RGC)
14 Joe Thomas (Ospreys)
13 Harri Millard (Cardiff Blues)
12 Owen Watkin (Ospreys)
11 Keelan Giles (Ospreys)
10 Daniel Jones (Scarlets)
9 Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys)
1 Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Blues)
2 Dafydd Hughes (Scarlets)
3 Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues)
4 Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff Blues)
5 Adam Beard (Ospreys)
6 Tom Phillips (captain, Scarlets)
7 Shaun Evans (Scarlets)
8 Harrison Keddie (Newport Gwent Dragons)
Replacements:
16 Ifan Phillips (Scarlets)
17 Rhys Fawcett (Scarlets)
18 Leon Brown (Newport Gwent Dragons)
19 Bryce Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons)
20 Morgan Sieniawski (Cardiff Blues)
21 Declan Smith (Scarlets)
22 Billy McBryde (Scarlets)
23 Joe Gage (Ospreys)
Ireland U20
15 Brett Connon (Newcastle Falcons)
14 Hugo Keenan (UCD / Leinster)
13 Shane Daly (Cork Con / Munster)
12 Conor O’Brien (Clontarf / Leinster)
11 Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins / Ulster)
10 Johnny McPhillips (Queens University / Ulster)
9 Stephen Kerins (Sligo / Connacht)
1 James Bollard (Dublin University / Leinster)
2 Adam McBurney (Ballymena / Ulster)
3 Conán O’Donnell (Sligo / Connacht)
4 Sean O’Connor (Cashel / Munster)
5 James Ryan (Lansdowne / Leinster) Captain
6 Cillian Gallagher (Sligo / Connacht)
7 Will Connors (UCD / Leinster)
8 Greg Jones (UCD / Leinster)
Replacements
16 Hugo Kean (St. Mary’s / Leinster)
17 Andrew Porter (UCD / Leinster)
18 Adam Coyle (Naas / Leinster)
19 Peter Claffey (Galwegians / Connacht
20 Max Deegan (Lansdowne / Leinster)
21 John Poland (Cork Con / Munster)
22 Paul Kiernan (UCC / Munster)
23 Matthew Byrne (Terenure / Leinster)
Scotland U20:
15 Tom Galbraith (c) (Melrose)
14 Darcy Graham (Hawick)
13 Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints)
12 George Taylor (Melrose)
11 Ben Robbins (Currie)
10 Adam Hastings (Bath Rugby)
9 Hugh Fraser (Heriot’s)
1 Murray McCallum (Heriot’s)
2 Jake Kerr (Boroughmuir)
3 Callum Sheldon (Leeds Beckett University)
4 Callum Hunter-Hill (Stirling County)
5 Stephen Ainslie (Currie)
6 Scott Burnside (Boroughmuir)
7 Matt Smith (Glasgow Hawks)
8 Ally Miller (Melrose)
Replacements:
16 Lewis Anderson (Ayr)
17 George Thornton (Bishop Burton College)
18 Adam Nicol (Stirling County)
19 Hamish Bain (Currie)
20 Lee Scott (Ayr)
21 Ruaridh Dawson (Newcastle Falcons)
22 Robbie Nairn (Harlequins)
23 Ruairi Howarth (Gala)
