Wales U20 head coach Richard Whiffin has confirmed his 30-man squad for the World Rugby Junior World Championship in Georgia.
Cardiff’s Steffan Emanuel will be making his third appearance in the tournament, while Lewis Edwards, Tom Bowen, Osian Darwin-Lewis and Sion Davies will be making their second appearance at the championship.
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They are joined by forwards, Jac Pritchard, Tom Cottle, Luke Evans, Evan Minto, Caio James and Deian Gwynne, who are also selected.
Cai Gealy, Will Evans, Brogan Leary, and Sam Morgan, who scored a brace in a warm-up friendly match against Scotland, are all set to earn their Wales debuts.
Wales will face hosts Georgia, Uruguay and defending champions South Africa in their pool games at Avchala Stadium.
“It’s obviously going to be hot out in Georgia, so there is going to be a heavy workload for the forwards,” he explained.
“Georgia and South Africa have two heavy packs, so we feel having those extra bodies in the pack, especially in the props, will give us a little bit more flexibility through the tournament.
“It is certainly a 30 that we will back, we intend to give everyone game time through the first couple of games so the boys are all able to put their hand up for the back end of the tournament.”
On the selection of Gealy and Morgan, Whiffin added: “Both performed really well in our U19s block, and it shows the importance of our U19 programme, which gives players an opportunity at international level to put their hand up.
“Both were playing well pre-Christmas and were in and around selection but have really kicked on well, Sam at the Ospreys U18s team, while Cai has got plenty of minutes for Hartpury at BUCS and Championship level.
On the players who narrowly missed out on the trip to Eastern Europe, Whiffin said: “I want to thank all the boys who are unfortunate to not make it.
“A few are still in camp now, training really hard, pushing the group on. The strength of our group is shown by how good the players we haven’t picked will be, but we have spoken to those guys to make sure they are ready in case we have to send for replacements.”
Wales U20 World Rugby Junior World Championship squad:
Backs
Lewis Edwards (Ospreys)
Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby)
Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby)
Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met)
Brogan Leary (Dragons RFC)
Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby) Co-capt
Bailey Cutts (Cardiff Rugby)
Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby)
Jack Hoskins (Ospreys)
Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets)
Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby)
Cai Gealy (Bristol Bears)
Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby)
Forwards
George Tuckley (Dragons RFC)
Dylan James (Ospreys)
Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby)
James Talamai (Dragons RFC)
Tom Howe (Cardiff Rugby)
Jac Pritchard (Scarlets)
Yestyn Cook (Scarlets)
Isaac Godfrey (Exeter Chiefs)
Will Evans (Scarlets)
Tom Cottle (Cardiff Rugby)
Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs)
Osian Williams (Bristol Bears)
Deian Gwynne (Gloucester Rugby) Co-capt
Sam Morgan (Ospreys)
Evan Minto (Dragons RFC)
Caio James (Gloucester Rugby)
Alex Ridgway (Bath Rugby)
Wales’ Pool Games
Saturday 27th June, 15:00- Wales v Georgia, Avchala Stadium
Thursday 2nd July, 10:00- Wales v Uruguay, Avchala Stadium
Tuesday 7th July, 15:00- South Africa v Wales, Avchala Stadium
