Wales U20 men’s head coach Richard Whiffin has confirmed his match day squad to face hosts Georgia in their opening Pool A clash of this year’s World Rugby Junior World Championship in Tiblisi.
Saturday’s opening game of the championship at Avchala Stadium sees Whiffin select a squad which includes 10 players in the starting XV who featured in last year’s tournament.
Cardiff Rugby centre Steffan Emanuel will co-captain the Wales side alongside Gloucester Rugby flanker Deian Gwynne.
Scarlets lock Will Evans will make his Wales debut alongside Tom Cottle in a new-look combination at second row while Ospreys flanker Sam Morgan and Bristol Bears scrum half Cai Gealy are set to make their international bows from the bench.
“It’s going to be a great occasion taking on Georgia in their home patch in front of their hostile crowd,” said Whiffin.
“We’ve got to put in place a game plan to quieten them down and we know it is going to be a big physical challenge against what is a formidable pack however we feel we have got plenty of weapons which can counter-act that.
“We’ve got three quick games in our pool and the first game can really set you up nicely considering we have got games five days after each other but all eyes are on Georgia – we know it is going to be a very tough game.
“They are well coached and play a lot of games and enter the competition having just beaten the junior All Blacks so they will be battle hardened for us.”
The two sides have only met once previously in the junior World Championship, with Wales defeating Georgia 40-21in Paarl (South Africa) 2023. Included in that side were Morgan Morse, Dan Edwards, Louie Hennessey and Mackenzie Martin who all went on to claim senior international caps.
Wales U20 v Georgia, Sat 27th June, Avchala Stadium 15:00
15 Lewis Edwards (Ospreys)
14 Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby)
13 Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby)
12 Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby) Co-capt
11 Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby)
10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets)
9 Siôn Davies (Cardiff Rugby);
1 George Tuckley (Dragons RFC)
2 Tom Howe (Cardiff Rugby
3 Jac Pritchard (Scarlets)
4 Will Evans (Scarlets)
5 Tom Cottle (Cardiff Rugby)
6 Deian Gwynne (Gloucester Rugby) Co-capt
7 Caio James (Gloucester)
8 Evan Minto (Dragons RFC)
Replacements
16 Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby)
17 Dylan James (Ospreys)
18 Yestyn Cook (Scarlets)
19 Osian Williams (Bristol Bears)
20 Sam Morgan (Ospreys)
21 Cai Gealy (Bristol Bears)
22 Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby)
23 Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met)