Eight Scarlets have been named in Wales’ 40-strong squad for the 2026 U20s Six Nations.
Head coach Richard Whiffin has included props Hudson Nevin, Jac Pritchard (pictured) and Yestyn Cook, back-rowers Osian Williams, Dom Kossuth and Joe Denman, and fly-halves Carwyn Leggatt-Jones and Steff Jac Jones for the Championship.
Former Scarlets U18s back-rower Deian Gwynne, now at Gloucester, will be co-captain along with Cardiff centre Steffan Emanuel.
There are 11 players returning from last season’s campaign, bringing vital experience to the squad.
“We want to get to the point where we’ve got as many second years as possible just for that growth value but it’s a squad that has a good balance of first timers who bring lots of energy into it and second timers who have got the experience,” said Whiffin.
“It’s a strong squad where we are happy with what we have selected – it was a very tough and robust process to go through but we think we have a squad who can attack the championship.
“There is extreme strength in our back row and back three – I think we have got a lot of experience in our midfield and we possess some really exciting halfbacks.
“Tight-five wise we’ve got a group who are dynamic and they give us probably something different around our ball-carrying that maybe we haven’t had in our tight five for a couple of years.”
Wales’ first game of the campaign will be against England who were denied a Grand Slam last season after Wales stunned them at Cardiff Arms Park.
“What a way to start the tournament with the old enemy,” said Whiffin. “Going up to Franklin’s Gardens, probably the best surface in the English Premiership, there will be a good partisan crowd up there so it will be a great experience for the boys – something we can get our heads around, get excited for and we will walk towards the challenge head on.”
Wales U20 Six Nations squad
Loose-head props
George Tuckley (Dragons RFC), George Leyland (Bristol Bears), Dylan James (Ospreys), Hudson Nevin (Scarlets)
Hookers
Tom Howe (Cardiff Rugby), James Talamai (Dragons RFC), Oscar Thomas (Bath Ruby)
Tight-head props
Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Isaac Godfrey (Exeter Chiefs), Yestyn Cook (Scarlets)
Locks
Tom Cottle (Cardiff Rugby), Oscar Rees (Gloucester Rugby), Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs), Osian B Williams (Bristol Bears), Gabe Williams (Cardiff Rugby)
Back row
Deian Gwynne (Gloucester – Co-Capt), Osian Williams (Scarlets), Cerrig Smith (Dragons RFC), Caio James (Gloucester Rugby), Evan Minto (Dragons RFC), Joe Denman (Scarlets), Dom Kossuth (Scarlets), Alex Ridgway (Bath Rugby),
Scrum halves
Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby), Carter Pritchard (Dragons RFC), Luca Woddyatt (Gloucester)
Fly-halves
Carwyn Leggat-Jones (Scarlets), Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby), Steff Jac Jones (Scarlets)
Centres
Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby – Co-Capt), Luc Anfield (Bath University), Jack Hoskins (Ospreys), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), Bailey Cutts (Cardiff Rugby)
Wingers
Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby), Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met), Evan Morris (Bristol Bears), Rhys Cole (Dragons RFC)
Full-backs
Jack Woods (Bath Rugby), Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby)