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Bristol Bears star named out of position in 33-man Wales U20s squad
Wales U20 head coach Gareth Williams has named a 33-man squad for the Six Nations which includes eight players making a welcome return from last season.
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Backs Aneurin Owen, Sam Costelow and Dafydd Buckland return alongside forwards Ioan Davies, Jac Morgan, Ben Warren, Will Griffiths and Jack Price with the bulk of the group, graduates from the Wales U18s squad. Morgan, who has impressed with the Scarlets this season, has been handed the captaincy responsibilities.
Williams describes the squad selected as a ‘well-balanced and exciting group of players’ and although there were some tough selection calls, the door isn’t entirely shut for others to force their way into Junior World Cup selection later in the year.
“We’ve been through the identification process thoroughly and it has resulted in us arriving at this stage of the Six Nations. There are still a lot of players out there that are still in contention for the Junior World Cup and it’s a case of keeping that identification going while competing in this Six Nations period,” he explained.
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Key figures could be fly-halves Ioan Lloyd and Sam Costelow who have gained invaluable experience this season with their clubs Bristol Bears and Leicester Tigers respectively while back row Jac Morgan has starred for the Scarlets after several eye-catching performances in last summer’s U20 World Rugby Championship in Argentina.
Although he normally plays 10 for Bristol, Lloyd is named at fullback in the squad, not among the three flyhalves named.
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“It will be brilliant to tap into the exposure they have gained,” said Williams. “It’s a big compliment on those boys, they are obvious talents and we can take advantage of that so it will be great to have them amongst the squad. The relationships with Bristol, Bath and Leicester and English clubs in general have been fantastic to be fair so we are excited to welcome those boys into the squad.
??Wales U18 secure win against @Scotlandteam U18 in Six Nations Festival with try doubles for Ioan Lloyd and Louis Rees-Zammit
REPORT | https://t.co/CJ81t0sS5N pic.twitter.com/ooJOxrjtfD
— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) April 17, 2019
“Jac has just kicked on, he did superbly in the World Cup last year and he has taken his opportunity at the Scarlets and it is great to see.”
Wales begin their campaign in Colwyn Bay against Italy where Williams is eager to get his second campaign in charge under way.
“Last year was my first experience going up to North Wales and Colwyn Bay was brilliant – the two games we played had a fantastic atmosphere, there was a great welcome and facilities are exceptional so it’s great that we get an extra game up there this year,” he said.
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“For myself going into my second season, I’m really excited in knowing what I am going into. We’ve got a fresh coaching group, Richard Kelly carries over with the forwards so that continuity is excellent but we are very fortunate as well to have two new additions in Gethin Jenkins and Richard Fussell.
“Gethin will head up the defence – he’s been doing a fantastic job with the boys and obviously doing very well with Cardiff RFC and the Blues Academy. Richard is the new attack coach – he has a lot of experience with the Ospreys Academy and has had a lot of exposure with the Ospreys seniors supporting Matt Sherratt so it’s been good to have those guys involved.”
Wales U20 squad for Six Nations 2020
Full-backs/Wings:
Dan John (Millfield School), Josh Thomas (Ospreys), Ewan Rosser (Dragons), Callum Williams (Scarlets), Harri Doel (Scarlets), Ioan Lloyd (Bristol)
Centres:
Bradley Roderick(Ospreys), Aneurin Owen (Dragons), Osian Knott (Scarlets)
Fly-halves:
Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers), Luke Scully (Worcester), Jacob Beetham (Cardiff Blues)
Scrum-halves:
Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Met), Dafydd Buckland (Dragons)
Back row:
Travis Huntley (Ospreys), Morgan Strong (Ospreys), Gwilym Bradley (Cardiff Blues), Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues), Jac Morgan (Scarlets – CAPT), Benji Hoppe (Dragons)
Second Row:
James Fender (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Ospreys), Ben Carter (Dragons), Jac Price (Scarlets)
Props:
Theo Bevacqua (Cardiff Blues), Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), Callum Williams (Scarlets), Archie Griffin (Bath), Harri O Connor (Scarlets), Dylan Bartlett (Dragons)
Hookers:
Dom Booth (Scarlets), Will Griffiths (Dragons), Brodie Coghlan Dragons)
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments