Five new players have been named in the Wales U20 squad for this Friday’s U20 Six Nations match against Scotland at Broadwood Stadium (20:30).
Head coach Jason Strange has also been boosted by the return of Rhun Williams and Reuben Morgan-Williams as Wales look to bounce back from the defeat by England last time out..
Blindside flanker James Botham, who made his debut for Wales Sevens earlier this month in Australia, No 8 Aled Ward and wing Corey Baldwin will win their first U20 caps.
Owen Hughes and fly-half Arwel Robson are set to do likewise from the bench with Strange staying true to his commitment to expose all of his players to top-level competition.
He can also bring in the experience of last season’s Grand Slam winners, starting fullback Rhun Williams and replacement scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams, for the first time this year.
Elsewhere in the team, there are first starts for outside centre Cameron Lewis and hooker Corrie Tarrant.
And with Broadwood Stadium boasting an artificial pitch, Wales U20 took the opportunity this week to train at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park in order to familiarise themselves with the surface.
“The pressure for places in the squad has increased the competitive feeling amongst the squad, and after capping eight new players against England, it’s good to be able to blood some more this week,” says Strange.
“That’s exactly what we need travelling to Scotland, who boast some really good individuals and a big pack of forwards.”
Strange says he has been impressed by what he has seen from his players so far in the competition, following outings against Italy and England.
“We may have a smaller pool of players to choose from than other nations, but we more than make up for that in talent,” he believes. “We’ve played some very good rugby in our past two games, and the job for the team this Friday is to build on that.”
The next Wales U20 home fixture is against Ireland on Saturday 11th March at Parc Eirias. Tickets are now available here.
Wales U20 team to face Scotland U20
15 Rhun Williams (Cardiff Blues)
14 Corey Baldwin (Scarlets)
13 Cameron Lewis (Cardiff Blues)
12 Keiran Williams (Ospreys)
11 Ryan Conbeer (Scarlets)
10 Ben Jones (Cardiff Blues)
9 Dane Blacker (Cardiff Blues)
1 Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues)
2 Corrie Tarrant (Cardiff Blues)
3 Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Blues)
4 Sean Moore (Pontypridd)
5 Alex Dombrandt (Cardiff Met)
6 James Botham (Cardiff Blues)
7 Will Jones (c) (Ospreys)
8 Aled Ward (Cardiff Blues)
Replacements
16 Owen Hughes (Newport Gwent Dragons)
17 Steff Thomas (Scarlets)
18 Chris Coleman (Newport Gwent Dragons)
19 Max Williams (Newport Gwent Dragons)
20 Morgan Morris (Hartpury)
21 Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys)
22 Arwel Robson (Newport Gwent Dragons)
23 Phil Jones (Ospreys)
