Three Scarlets have been named in the Wales U19s matchday squad to face England at the Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach on Friday afternoon. (KO 3pm).
Carmarthen’s Carwyn Leggatt-Jones starts at fly-half, while prop Hudson Nevin and fly-half Steff Jac Jones are among the replacements.
Former Scarlets U18s back-rower Alex Ridgeway, now with Bath, gets the nod at No. 8.
“It’s always a good challenge to play against England, the boys will be up for the game and the challenge against our closest rivals so it’s great to have them come over the bridge and take us on at Ystrad Mynach,” said head coach Wales Richard Whiffin.
“It will be a challenge for the boys, it has been a short week but a good week integrating the group of players again – for a lot of these boys it is a last chance to put their hand up for Six Nations selection so not only is it an important game for preparation for the tournament, but there are also spots up for grabs.”
With the Wales U20 Six Nations training squad going into camp in the New Year, Whiffin has stressed to the players that this is their last opportunity to stake a claim for the championship squad.
“I made that pretty clear at the beginning of the week,” said Whiffin, “yes, we have been tracking them all year and know their strengths but there is nothing better than a Test match to put the pressure right on them and see how they react in those high pressure moments.”
Wales U19 v England U19, Friday 19 Dec, Ystrad Mynach, 3pm
15 Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby); 14 Rhys Cole (Dragons), 13 Bailey Cutts (Cardiff Rugby), 12 Jack Hoskins (Ospreys), 11 Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met); 10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), 9 Luca Woodyatt (Gloucester Rugby); 1 George Leyland (Bristol Bears), 2 Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby), 3 Isaac Godfrey (Exeter Chiefs), 4 Osian Williams (Bristol Bears), 5 Luke Evans (Bristol Bears), 6 Cerrig Smith (Dragons – Capt), 7 Sam Morgan (Ospreys), 8 Alex Ridgeway (Bath Rugby).
Replacements
16 Evan Gallagher (Bath Rugby), 17 Hudson Nevin (Scarlets), 18 Nathan Davies (Dragons), 19 Gabe Williams (Cardiff Rugby), 20 Tiehi Chatham (Dragons), 21 Alfie Thomas (Ospreys), 22 Carter Pritchard (Dragons), 23 Steff Jac Jones (Scarlets), 24 Jack Harrison (Bath Rugby), 25 Morgan Carter (Dragons), 26 Noah Morgan (Dragons), 27 Tomos Evans (Gloucester).