Richard Whiffin has named his Wales side to face Ireland at Virgin Media Park in Cork on Saturday evening in the penultimate round of the U20 Six Nations. (KO 7.45pm).
There are three changes in the starting line-up with Dragons RFC loosehead prop George Tuckley replacing Dylan James while in the backs Cardiff Rugby teammates Lloyd Lucas and Osian Darwin-Lewis replace Carwyn Leggatt-Jones and Bailey Cutts at fly half and outside centre respectively. Cutts drops down to the bench after scoring on his debut in the last round against Scotland.
On the replacements bench Bath Rugby hooker Oscar Thomas replaces James Talamai while Scarlets’ Dom Kossuth comes in for Alex Ridgway while Dragons scrum half Carter Pritchard could earn his first cap after replacing Luca Woodyatt.
“It’s a tough tournament and there has been lots of good performances from our squad in training so there is opportunity for guys from either the bench or to start to make their mark and it gives us a chance to look at other guys in the squad,” said Whiffin.
Ireland stunned England in the last round and possess a formidable record at Virgin Media Park since making it their home in 2019. Ireland have won 13 of their 15 U20 Six Nations matches at the Cork venue, only suffering defeats to England and France, both in 2025.
“Ireland are always a well organised team, they have a good set piece and they look to build multi-phase against you with lots of options so we’ll have to be on our mettle with a good connected defence,” explained Whiffin, before adding, “and then from an attack point of view they have plenty of line speed so our ability to move the ball under pressure is going to be important.
“We’ve put three good performances together and we could easily be sitting on slightly better results.
“The strength of the group is we’re tight and connected and know there is more in them and we spoke as a group about the opportunity to go to Cork and get a win in what is a formidable away venue.
“The challenge has been set for the boys and they get an opportunity and we’re excited to see how they go.”
Wales U20 v Ireland U20, Virgin Media Park, Sat 7 March, KO 7.45pm
15 Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby)
14 Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met)
13 Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby)
12 Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby – co-capt)
11 Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby)
10 Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby)
9 Siôn Davies (Cardiff Rugby);
1 George Tuckley (Dragons RFC)
2 Tom Howe (Cardiff Rugby)
3 Jac Pritchard (Scarlets)
4 Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs)
5 Osian Williams (Bristol Bears)
6 Deian Gwynne (Gloucester – co-capt)
7 Caio James (Gloucester)
8 Evan Minto (Dragons RFC)
Replacements
16 Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby)
17 George Leyland (Bristol Bears)
18 Yestyn Cook (Scarlets)
19 Oscar Rees (Gloucester)
20 Dom Kossuth (Scarlets)
21 Carter Pritchard (Dragons RFC)
22 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets)
23 Bailey Cutts (Cardiff Rugby)
2026 U20 Six Nations – Wales fixtures and venues
- Fri 6 Feb, 19:45 – England 19-16 Wales, cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
- Sat 14 Feb, 20:00 – Wales 24-34 France, Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
- Fri 20 Feb, 19:15 – Wales 31-21 Scotland, Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
- Sat 7 Mar, 19:45 – Ireland v Wales, Virgin Media Park, Cork
- Sun 15 Mar, 13:00 – Wales v Italy, Rodney Parade, Newport – TICKETS