Five Scarlets have been named in the Wales squad for the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championships in South Africa.
Centre Macs Page and hookers Harry Thomas and Isaac Young (pictured) – who all made their URC debuts this season – are joined by prop Josh Morse and scrum-half Lucca Setaro in a 30-strong party.
Wales will be captained by the returning Dragons back-rower Ryan Woodman who missed the Six Nations championship through injury and includes just two uncapped players, brothers Ioan and Steffan Emanuel.
Wales will face New Zealand, Spain and France in the U20 Championship pool stage, kicking off on June 29.
“Yesterday was a tough day, telling players who have worked incredibly hard that they haven’t made the plane,” said head coach Richard Whiffin.
“There were obviously some tough conversations but to be fair they’ve reacted well and the group have got tight around them and picked them up. But that is the nature of the job.”
Scarlets hooker Young, along with the Emanuel siblings and Woodman, are the only players in the squad who didn’t feature in the Six Nations championship. Young played for Wales last year but was ruled out for this year’s campaign through injury.
“We have got power throughout the team with genuine athletes in all areas of the field,” added Whiffin,
“The way we want to play is to move the ball and express ourselves in the wider channels – hopefully we have a team who can be competitive in what is an extremely competitive pool.”
Wales U20 Championship squad
Forwards
Jordan Morris (Dragons), Josh Morse (Scarlets), Ioan Emanuel (Bath Rugby), Harry Thomas (Scarlets), Isaac Young (Scarlets), Will Austin (Sale Sharks), Kian Hire (Ospreys), Sam Scott (Bristol), Jonny Green (Harlequins), Nick Thomas (Dragons RFC), Osian Thomas (Leicester Tigers), Ryan Woodman (Dragons RFC – Capt), Lucas de la Rua (Cardiff Rugby), Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers), Morgan Morse (Ospreys), Owen Conquer (Dragons RFC)
Backs
Ieuan Davies (Bath Rugby), Rhodri Lewis (Opsreys), Lucca Setaro (Scarlets), Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby), Harri Ford (Dragons RFC), Macs Page (Scarlets), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby), Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby), Elijah Evans (Cardiff Rugby), Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Rugby), Harry Rees-Weldon (Dragons RFC), Kodie Stone (Cardiff RFC), Huw Anderson (Dragons RFC), Matty Young (Cardiff Rugby)
Wales U20 pool fixtures
Saturday, June 29: Wales v New Zealand, Athlone Sports Stadium, 6pm
Thursday, July 4: Wales v Spain, Athlone Sports Stadium, 1pm
Tuesday, July 9: Wales v France, Athlone Sports Stadium, 3.30pm