Six Scarlets have been included in a 26-strong Wales U20s squad to take on Scotland at the Wern, Merthyr on Friday (KO.12.30pm).
Fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, prop Jac Pritchard and flanker Osian Williams are named in the starting line-up, with flanker Joe Denman, fly-half Steff Jac Jones and winger Thomas Williams among the replacements.
“We’ve got a lot of boys coming back in from last year that we want to gain more experience, then there are a few new guys who will get their first experience at U20s rugby leading into the Six Nations,” said head coach Richard Whiffin.
Whiffin is hoping the experience of the returnees, including Pritchard (pictured), will enable his side to hit the ground running against the Scots.
“They know the way we want to play, they have an understanding of the intensity level that U20s rugby is about, so I think by having a core group from last year helping the younger guys is a good blend going into the Six Nations.”
The U20s clash against Scotland and next week’s U19s encounter against England at Ystrad Mynach has given the Welsh management an opportunity to cast their net wide as they narrow down selection with the Six Nations in mind.
“Over the course of the U19s game against France, the U20s game against Scotland and next week’s U19s game against England we’ll probably have 50-60 players play and that is without a handful of players that are playing Champions Cup rugby like Deian Gwynne and Challenge Cup rugby like Tom Bowen and Steffan Emanuel that will come back into the set-up post-Christmas,” he said.
Wales U20 v Scotland U20, The Wern, Merthyr RFC, Fri 12 Dec, KO 12.30
15 Lewis Edwards (Ospreys); 14 Evan Morris (Bristol Bears), 13 Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), 12 Luc Anfield (Bath University), 11 Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby); 10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), 9 Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby); 1 George Tuckley (Dragons), 2 Tom Howe (Cardiff Rugby), 3 Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), 4 Oscar Rees (Gloucester), 5 Tom Cottle (Cardiff Rugby – Capt), 6 Osian Williams (Scarlets), 7 Ryan Jones (Dragons), 8 Evan Minto (Dragons)
Replacements
16 James Talamai (Dragons), 17 George Leyland (Bristol Bears), 18 Callum Donaghue-Proud (Cardiff Rugby), 19 Osian Williams (Bristol Bears), 20 Joe Denman (Scarlets), 21 Cerrig Smith (Dragons), 22 Ellis Lewis (Swansea RFC), 23 Steff Jac Jones (Scarlets), 24 Thomas Williams (Scarlets), 25 Jack Hoskins (Ospreys), 26 Joseff Jones (Cardiff Rugby).