Wales have named their side for their 2022 U20 Six Nations opener against Ireland on Friday night.
Kicking off at 8pm a Musgrave Park, Wales are looking to bounce back from a 40-12 defeat to the same opposition back in the 2021 Championships.
Head Coach Byron Hayward has picked and exciting side, skippered by Cardiff Rugby’s Alex Mann, who captained the side in a few games during their 2021 campaign. He is one of six players in the side that have previously featured for Wales U20. Joining him with experience up front are hooker Efan Daniel tighthead Nathan Evans, both also of Cardiff Rugby, as well as Dragons second row Joe Peard.
Returning in the backline are Scarlets pair Eddie James, inside centre, and Harri Williams, the former St Joseph’s College scrum half who starred in the 2021 Championships.
Elsewhere in the backline Ospreys’ Daniel Edwards starts at fly half with clubmate Harri Huston on the right wing. Dragons’ Oi Andrew is on the other wing, with Cardiff Rugby’s Cameron Winnett at full back. Starting at outside centre is Harlequins’ Bryn Bradley, the former Epsom College star who is the younger brother of ex-Hampton star Gwillym, who featured for the U20s in recent campaigns.
Completing the forward back are Ospreys’ second row Lewis Jones, Cardiff Rugby openside Ethan Fackrell, and Dragons’ number 8 Ben Moa, as well as Cardiff Met’s Joe Cowell at loosehead.
On the bench are three Ospreys, Joe Hawkins, Benji Williams, and Ellis Fackrell, as well as Cardiff Rugby’s Rhys Barratt and Dragons’ Morgan Lloyd. There are also three players based in England on the bench, Ealing Trailfinders’ Morgan Vennes, Bath’s former Millfield star Tom Cowan, and Bristol Bears’ Jac Lloyd, the Clifton College leaver who is the younger brother of Wales international Ioan.
Speaking ahead of the game, Byron Hayward said: “Ireland are always a strong side. They have a great system bringing players through, so it is going to be a massive challenge for us but one we’re looking forward to.”
“It’s simply just great to see how much the boys are looking forward to it – you can see it in the squad, they are so looking forward to just playing rugby in a meaningful game in front of a crowd. People forget that the players have lost nearly two years of their development, and for a lot of the boys, this could be their only chance of playing and representing their country.”
“It has been difficult with the boys not playing [due to Covid], and that can become monotonous, especially when you haven’t got an end game. But we managed to get in two friendly games, which was massive for us, and I know the boys enjoyed them and performed well in them and all things considering, I’m looking forward to the weekend as much as the players.”
Wales U20 XV v Ireland – Friday, 8pm, Musgrave Park
15 Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby), 14 Harri Huston (Ospreys), 13 Bryn Bradley (Harlequins), 12 Eddie James (Scarlets), 11 Oli Andrew (Dragons), 10 Daniel Edwards (Ospreys), 9 Harri Williams (Scarlets), 1 Joe Cowell (Cardiff Met), 2 Efan Daniel (Cardiff Rugby), 3 Nathan Evans (Cardiff Rugby), 4 Joe Peard (Dragons), 5 Lewis Jones (Ospreys), 6 Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby, captain), 7 Ethan Fackrell (Cardiff Rugby), 8 Ben Moa (Dragons).
Replacements: 16 Morgan Vennes (Ealing Trailfinders), 17 Rhys Barratt (Cardiff Rugby), 18 Ellis Fackrell (Ospreys), 19 Benji Williams (Ospreys), 20 Tom Cowan (Bath Rugby), 21 Morgan Lloyd (Dragons), 22 Jac Lloyd (Bristol Bears), 23 Joe Hawkins (Ospreys).
