Prop Yestyn Cook has been handed a starting jersey in a much-changed Wales U20s side to face Uruguay in the second round of matches in the World Rugby Junior World Championship on Thursday (10am, Premier Sports).
Cook starts at tight-head against the South Americans, while fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones is named among the replacements.
On the back of a nail-biting 25-24 victory over hosts Georgia in the opening round, head coach Richard Whiffin has made wholesale changes for the Pool A clash, with only two players – Tom Bowen and captain Deian Gwynne – remaining in the starting XV. Uruguay shipped 104 points in their opener against an impressive South Africa.
“It was satisfying to get a win in our opening pool game against Georgia, the first time Wales had won their opening game since 2019, so it sets us up nicely for the tournament,” said Whiffin.
“We’ve freshened the squad up to give other players an opportunity so hopefully everyone has had a crack in the tournament after the two opening games.
‘We had a few sore bodies after the physical encounter against Georgia, but the boys have recovered well.
“The boys are excited to get going against Uruguay as they are an opponent we don’t come across very often so that provides a unique challenge in itself. They will be smarting after a heavy defeat to defending champions South Africa in their opening pool match. As always though we won’t be taking anything for granted and will go into the match determined to put in a good performance. If we do that, then the result should take care of itself.”
Wales U20s v Uruguay, Thursday, July 2, Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi, KO 10am
15 Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby); 14 Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met), 13 Bailey Cutts (Cardiff Rugby), 12 Jack Hoskins (Ospreys), 11 Brogan Leary (Dragons RFC); 10 Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby), 9 Cai Gealy (Bristol Bears); 1 Dylan James (Ospreys), 2 Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby), 3 Yestyn Cook (Scarlets), 4 Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs), 5 Osian Williams (Bristol Bears), 6 Deian Gwynne (Capt) (Gloucester Rugby), 7 Sam Morgan (Ospreys), 8 Alex Ridgway (Bath Rugby).
Replacements: 16 James Talamai (Dragons RFC), 17 George Tuckley (Dragons RFC), 18 Isaac Godfrey (Exeter Chiefs), 19 Tom Cottle (Cardiff Rugby), 20 Evan Minto (Dragons RFC), 21 Siôn Davies (Cardiff Rugby), 22 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), 23 Steff Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby).