Posted by Cymru D20 get their U20 Six Nations campaign underway this evening with Scotland U20 the visitors to Parc Eirias as the young Welshman head North for the start of the season on a wave of excitement for what they might achieve.
It brings to an end a long build up for the players having attended training camps and flown up to Scotland for a development game before Christmas, ahead of a second camp beginning in January including warm-up games against Indigo Welsh Premiership side Aberavon and Swansea University of BUCS Super Rugby.
That has also been valuable for the new coaching team, headed up by former Gloucester Academy Manager, and Scarlets, Wales Women and Highlanders Assistant Coach Richard Whiffin who joined from Cardiff & Vale College. He is assisted by Scarlets Academy Head Coach Scott Sneddon (skills), Wales U18 Head Coach Richie Pugh (set piece) and Dragons Academy Coach Sam Hobbs (forwards).
A balanced and young coaching ticket, but with plenty of experience under their belts despite their tender years, and overseen by the knowledgeable eye of Rob Howley who has returned to the Welsh Rugby Union in a role managing the men’s and women’s pathways, alongside acting as a Technical Coach with the men’s senior side.
With the financial belt tightening that Welsh professional rugby has experienced over the last 12 months it has, inadvertently rather than due to any great WRU masterstroke, uncovered for the wider world just what incredible talent is coming through the development pathways here in Wales, even if it does sometimes end up heading over the Bridge.
The hope is that this U20 crop can continue that positivity after a few years of tough results in particularly the U20 Six Nations. Wales haven’t finished above 4th in the table since 2017, culminating in last year’s wooden spoon. There has been a focus on the tournament as more of a development camp for the World Rugby U20 Championship, but five losses is still tough to take.
Whiffin’s matchday 23 for Friday night’s game is a well-balanced, and crucially physical, looking side. Seven of the starting XV are returners from last year’s squad, four have at least played semi-regularly for their club’s 1st XV this season, while the majority are getting regular semi-professional or BUCS Super Rugby game time.
With Nick Thomas and Osian Thomas (no relation) joining the returning Kian Hire, Jonny Green, Lucas De La Rua and Morgan Morse in the pack, alongside the sizeable Jordan Morris at loosehead, it is arguably the biggest group of forwards Cymru D20 have selected in the U20 Six Nations since the covid-interrupted 2020 campaign including the likes of Ben Warren, James Fender, Ben Carter, Jac Morgan and Morgan Strong.
Highly-rated tighthead prop Sam Scott, still only U18, Owen Conquer, who has been a stand out physical performer for Ebbw Vale this season, and Harry Beddall, who has been featuring regularly in the English Championship, are all waiting to add to that off the bench too.
The exciting returning centre duo of Harri Ackerman and Louie Hennessey, who both caught the eye despite the results last year, are back to hopefully take advantage of any platform provided, while there is genuine gas in the wide channels from the likes of Walker Price and Harry Rees-Weldon, as Aidan Boshoff and Kodie Stone don’t even make the squad.
It’s all eyes on Scotland U20 for the players and coaches, but there will be a thought that if a result can be secured in Colwyn Bay then the momentum rolls on to England U20 where Cymru D20 teams are rarely unable to get right up for the fight.
A trip to Ireland U20 will be tough in round three as they retain a core of their reigning Grand Slam Champion side, but with France U20, missing a large number of players to senior call-ups, club duty or injury, and Italy U20 then travelling to Cardiff as Cymru D20 return to the Arms Park, the aim will be to crack that top three.
There’s a few eyes on Whiffin’s men as they approach round one, but if that excitement can be harnessed and turned into confidence then there’s a sense this group could be competitive in the U20 Six Nations for the first time in seven years.
Pob lwc bois!
Cardiff Rugby Life 