Wales start their U20 Summer Series campaign against Scotland on Saturday (4pm) with coach Byron Hayward welcoming back two of the brightest prospects in British and Irish rugby in locks Christ Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins.
The duo have been touted as the potential second-row pairing for the Wales senior team at the 2027 World Cup.
The pair were off limits to Hayward for the entire junior Six Nations campaign, with injury ruling out Tshiunza, while Jenkins was needed for club duties with Exeter Chiefs.
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But both are back in the fold for the competition in Italy which sees Wales open against the Scots at Stadio Monigo in Treviso.
“It’s a massive boost for us to have the calibre of players coming back in to enhance the team,” said Hayward. “The one thing we lacked in the Six Nations was a physical presence, particularly in the forwards.
“If you look at the team selected for Scotland, two of the boys who played in the second row are now playing in their proper position in the back row.”
Those two boys would be blindside flanker Ryan Woodman and No. 8 Benji Williams, with both rated significant talents.
Indeed, so highly is Dragons youngster Woodman rated that Hayward went out of his way to predict a big future for him.
“I would stick my life on it, he will be playing for Wales in the next World Cup,” said Hayward, meaning the 2027 global tournament.
“His work rate is so high, and he proved that in the second row for us. I’m eager to see him get around the park and get his carrying going as I think he could be difficult for the opposition to handle.
“He was calling the lineouts in the Six Nations where our pack was quite light but he has come back in six kilos heavier and his fitness levels are high scoring so I’m expecting big things from Ryan for this tournament.”
Back-five forward Woodman cites Alun Wyn Jones as his inspiration and is a talented lineout operator who grafts around the field.
Ospreys forward Williams is also making a name for himself.
Hayward continued: “It will be great to see them (Williams and Woodman) play in their preferred positions as Ryan is still only 18 years old.”
With Jenkins, Tshiunza and Cardiff centre Mason Grady bolstering Wales, Hayward is confident his young side can get off to a winning start against Scotland before taking on Georgia and Italy in the other pool games.
“Overall, it’s a very strong squad. If someone had said to us before this series that you would lose Tom Cowan and Alex Mann — two of our star players in the Six Nations — but we’d still have a strong team to put out, then we wouldn’t have thought that.
“I can’t wait to see them go on Saturday. They have been training well so it will be good to see the boys go. We’re now in a position where we have strength in depth and the boys on the bench can come on and make a massive impact on the team.”
Ospreys centre Joe Hawkins leads the side.
Wales U20s:
Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby); Oli Andrew (Dragons), Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby), Joe Hawkins (capt, Ospreys), Harri Houston (Ospreys); Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Che Hope (Dragons); Rhys Barratt (Cardiff Rugby), Efan Daniel (Cardiff Rugby), Nathan Evans (Cardiff Rugby), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Ryan Woodman (Dragons), Ethan Fackrell (Cardiff Rugby), Benji Williams (Ospreys).
Replacements
Oli Burrows (Exeter Chiefs), Cameron Jones (Ospreys), Adam Williams (Dragons), Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby), Morgan Morse (Ospreys), Morgan Lloyd (Dragons),
Josh Phillips (Scarlets), Bryn Bradley (Harlequins), Ellis Fackrell (Ospreys), Caleb Salmon (Scarlets), Joe Westwood (Dragons).
Watch live on Six Nations Rugby YouTube channel
Welsh commentary on WRU You Tube channel
Six Nations U20 Summer Series
Sat 25 June – Scotland v Wales – Stadio Di Monigo 4pm
Thu 30 June – Wales v Georgia – Stadio Di Monigo – 4pm
Wed 6 July – Wales v Italy – Stadio Di Monigo – 7pm
Tue 12 July Play-off – opposition/KO TBC
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