Wales Under-20s captain Will Jones returns to skipper the side to face Italy at Colwyn Bay on Friday.
Wales Under-20s captain Will Jones returns to skipper the side to face Italy at Colwyn Bay on Friday.
Jones, who recently signed his first senior contract with Ospreys, returns from regional duty with centre Corey Baldwin and lock Max Williams returning from impressive displays with Scarlets and Dragons.
Head coach Jason Strange names an all-new front row with loosehead Rhys Carre, hooker Dewi Lake and tighthead Kemsley Mathias all promoted from the bench.
Jones is the only change to the back row, with James Botham – who scored a brace against Ireland last time out – moving across to blindside.
TEAM NEWS ??????? Last season’s #WalesU20 captain @Wjones_07 is back to lead the team against Italy this Friday in Colwyn Bay. #WALvITA
?: https://t.co/9apO9DA6F7 pic.twitter.com/Ns5E0jStzS
— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 7, 2018
Ospreys scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams joins the replacements and head coach Strange is delighted to have a wealth of experience in his side.
“It’s been a boost to the side to have the experience of someone like Will Jones back, having captained the Under-20s very well last year,” said head coach Strange.
“He and Reuben have acquitted themselves very well at senior level with Ospreys this season, and they’re proof of how valuable the Under-20 pathway is.
“The fact that a lot of these boys have been playing regional rugby lately is beneficial on a number of levels: to themselves, but also for the team as a whole and the experience they bring back into the Under-20s environment.
“The players have been working extremely hard as a group over the past few weeks, and we’ve exposed 32 different players to international rugby at Under-20 level, which is incredibly positive. Our ability to rotate the squad is reflected in our selection for Italy.”
“We played them twice last year, and both games were very tough. In fact, we only beat them by a point in the Under-20 Championships in the summer – in a tournament where they beat Ireland – so we need to carry the good form we showed in Dublin a fortnight ago into Friday night’s game in Colwyn Bay.”
Wales Under-20 team to face Italy:
15. Cai Evans (Ospreys)
14. Joe Goodchild (Dragons)
13. Corey Baldwin (Scarlets)
12. Callum Carson (Ospreys)
11. Tommy Rogers (Scarlets)
10. Ben Jones (Cardiff Blues)
9. Harri Morgan (Ospreys)
1. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys)
3. Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets)
4. Owen Lloyd (Cardiff Blues)
5. Max Williams (Dragons)
6. James Botham (Cardiff Blues)
7. Will Jones (c) (Ospreys)
8. Taine Basham (Dragons)
Replacements:
16. Iestyn Harris (Cardiff Blues)
17. Jordan Walters (Ospreys)
18. Rhys Henry (Ospreys)
19. Alun Lawrence (Cardiff Blues)
20. Lennon Greggains (Dragons)
21. Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys)
22. Max Llewellyn (Cardiff Blues)
23. Rio Dyer (Dragons)