Ten Scarlets named for Wales U20s Poland warm-up

Rob Lloyd Newyddion

Ten Scarlets have been included in a Wales U20s squad to take on the Poland senior men’s team at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday (KO 7.15pm – free entry).

Scrum-half Archie Hughes, hooker Lewis Morgan, prop Will Couch and flanker Luca Giannini are named in the starting XV, while Isaac Young, Tomas Pritchard, Caleb Salmon, Harri Williams, Iestyn Gwilliam and Jac Davies are included on the bench.

It will be a last chance for players to impress head coach Byron Hayward before he announces his Six Nations squad early next week.

Poland, coached by Welsh duo Christian Hitt and former Scarlet Morgan Stoddart, will pose a major threat to Hayward’s side and he is expecting a tough night for his squad.

“It’s a last opportunity for players as we play Ireland in just over two weeks in the opening round of the Six Nations in Colwyn Bay,” said Hayward.

“Physicality is important at test match level so we’ll be looking to match them so hopefully we can stand up to them and win the physical battle.”

There is plenty to play for as places are up for grabs according to the Wales U20s head coach.

“If you look across the 15 places, most of them will be up for grabs. We’ve got good competition, particularly in the back-line. Our nines are strong and we have good competition at 10 and in the centres – there is plenty of competition there.”

Wales U20s v Poland, Cardiff Arms Park, Fri 20 January, KO 7.15pm

15 Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby); 14 Llien Morgan (Ospreys), 13 Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby), 12 Harri Ackerman (Dragons), 11 Harri Houston (Ospreys), 10 Dan Edwards (Ospreys), 9 Archie Hughes (Scarlets); 1 Dylan Keller Griffiths (Dragons), 2 Lewis Morgan (Scarlets), 3 Will Couch (Scarlets), 4 Liam Edwards (Ospreys), 5 Jonny Green (Harlequins), 6 Huw Davies (Sale), 7 Luca Giannini (Scarlets), 8 Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby)

Replacements: 16 Isaac Young (Scarlets), 17 Freddie Chapman (Ospreys), 18 Tomas Pritchard (Scarlets), 19 Patrick Nelson (RGC), 20 Owain Evans (RGC), 21 Caleb Salmon (Scarlets), 22 Tom Caple (Dragons), 23 Harri Williams (Scarlets), 24 Harrison James (Cardiff Rugby), 25 Iestyn Gwilliam (Scarlets), 26 Jac Davies (Scarlets)