Wales have named their squad for the U20 6 Nations Championships, with 32 players selected.
Leicester Tigers’ Tommy Reffell will captain the side, having done so through much of last year’s U20 season too.
Reffell is one of four English based players in the squad, including Leicester Tigers teammate Sam Costelow, who is still in the U18 Tigers squad. Also included is Bristol Bears forward Nick English and Gloucester back Alex Morgan.
Thirteen have U20 experience, including skipper Reffell, and Ospreys Cai Evans, son of Wales and British & Irish Lions legend Ieuan Evans.
Head Coach Gareth Williams spoke to www.wru.wales about his squad, saying:
“This is the first selection point gearing towards the World Cup when looking at the bigger picture, I’ve been really impressed with the boys attitude and not just the players who have been successful in making the squad.”
“We’ve also got an injured group of players and a training group as well as the Six Nations squad and all have been exemplary. We’ve had three camps with 60 players and the competitive nature of all ensures no-one can rest on their laurels as competition for places across the board has been intense.”
“All of the coaching group, which includes Dai Flanagan [attack], Richard Kelly [forwards] and Andrew Bishop [defence] were mightily impressed by the effort the boys put in and we’re all now eagerly waiting to get the campaign underway in France.”
Wales U20 6 Nations Squad:
Forwards:
Tom Devine (Dragons), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Nick English (Bristol Bears), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Cameron Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Will Griffiths (Dragons), Jac Price (Scarlets), Teddy Williams (Cardiff Blues), Morgan Jones (Scarlets), Ed Scragg (Dragons), Iestyn Rees (Scarlets), Ellis Thomas (Llanelli RFC), Tommy Reffell (Leicester, captain), Jac Morgan (Scarlets), Taine Basham (Dragons).
Backs:
Harri Morgan (Ospreys), Jamie Hill (Cardiff Blues), Dafydd Buckland (Dragons), Cai Evans (Ospreys), Sam Costelow (Leicester), Aneurin Owen (Dragons), Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (Ospreys), Tom Hoppe (Dragons), Dewi Cross (Ospreys), Deon Smith (Dragons), Caine Woolerton (Ospreys), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Alex Morgan (Gloucester), Tomi Lewis (Scarlets), Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues).
Wales U20 6 Nations Fixtures:
France – Sunday 3rd Feb, Stade de la Rabine, 3pm
Italy – Sunday 10th Feb, Stadio Danilo Martelli, 3pm
England – Friday 22nd Feb, Stadiwm Zip World, 7.05pm
Scotland – Friday 8th Mar, Galashiels, 7.30pm
Ireland – Sunday 15th Mar, Stadiwm Zip World, 7.05pm