Scarlets hooker Harry Thomas has been named in the Wales side to take on Scotland in the opening match of the U20s Six Nations in Colwyn Bay on Friday night (18:45; S4C).
Pembrokeshire centre Macs Page is also included in the squad, named among the replacements.
The side will be captained by Dragons RFC centre Harri Ackerman and will have eight players starting who will all be making their debuts, including New Dock Stars product Thomas, who played his college rugby at Coleg SIr Gar and is a former captain of the Scarlets U18s side.
Both Thomas and Page have been in impressive form for Llandovery in the Indigo Premiership this season.
“The boys have trained well for the last couple of weeks and the guys who have been selected to play have earned the right through their training and their regional performances. We’re now just excited to finish off the week and get up to North Wales and give it a crack,” said Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin.
Whiffin is expecting a tough battle against Scotland as recent history has shown they are a tough nut to crack.
“You think about the game up there just before Christmas and obviously the one-point game last Six Nations, I expect it to be very tight. They have a very good pack, their maul is pretty strong so I expect them to challenge us in that area.
“On top of that they’ve got some real good pace in those wider channels so I would imagine they are a team that is going to come down thinking they’ve got a good opportunity, and it will be a tough challenge for us but one that we walk towards.
“You look at how much momentum can be created from an early victory. It can set you up well for the rest of the championship and will build confidence in the group. That result on Friday is going to be massively important but we also want to produce a good performance in terms of what we’ve been practising for the last few weeks – we want to get out on the field and then hopefully that takes care of the result .”
Wales U20s v Scotland U20s – Stadiwm CSM, Friday, February 2, KO 6.45pm (S4C)
15 Huw Anderson (Dragons)*
14 Harry Rees-Weldon (Dragons RFC)*
13 Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby)
12 Harri Ackerman (Dragons RFC – Capt)
11 Walker Price (Dragons RFC)*
10 Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby)
9 Ieuan Davies (Bath Rugby)*;
1 Jordan Morris (Dragons)*
2 Harry Thomas (Scarlets)*
3 Kian Hire (Ospreys)
4 Jonny Green (Harlequins)
5 Nick Thomas (Dragons)*
6 Osian Thomas (Leicester Tigers)*
7 Lucas de la Rua (Cardiff Rugby)
8 Morgan Morse (Ospreys)
Replacements
16 Evan Wood (Cardiff Met)*
17 Freddie Chapman (Ospreys)
18 Sam Scott (Midlands Central)*
19 Owen Conquer (Ebbw Vale)*
20 Harri Beddall (Leicester Tigers)*
21 Rhodri Lewis (Ospreys)
22 Harri Ford (RGC)*
23 Macs Page (Scarlets)*
*Uncapped
Fixtures
Fri 2 Feb, Wales v Scotland – Stadium CSM, KO 6.45pm `
Fri 9 Feb, England v Wales, Recreation Ground, Bath KO 7.15pm`
Fri 23 Feb, Ireland v Wales, Virgin Media Park, Cork KO 7.15pm`
Thurs 7 March, Wales v France, Cardiff Arms Park, 7.45pm`
Fri 15th March, Wales v Italy, Cardiff Arms Park, 7.30pm