The Future of Rugby: Wales U23
Following on from our examination of the future Australian options, the latest in RugbyPass’ ‘Future of Rugby’ series takes a look at a potential U23 XV for the sixth-ranked side in the world, Wales.
Head coach Wayne Pivac will have to look to plenty of these talented youngsters as he aims to build a squad capable of challenging for the Rugby World Cup in 2023, especially as a number of the nations’ incumbents could well have played in their last tournament out in Japan in 2019.
For the purposes of the XV below, only players aged 23 or younger on May 1st 2020 were considered eligible.
- Ioan Lloyd, Bristol Bears
Wales doesn’t lack for silky running full-backs, with Mat Protheroe, Carwyn Penny and Will Talbot-Davies also in the mix here, but in Lloyd they potentially have a difference-maker at the highest level. Whether at 10 or 15, Lloyd’s acceleration, footwork and distribution allows him to create and finish attacking opportunities with equal abandon.
- Louis Rees-Zammit, Gloucester
Few players have ever made the seamless transition from junior rugby to senior rugby that Rees-Zammit has over the past eight months. He has bypassed U20 rugby this season and gone straight into involvement with the senior Wales side, on the back of a number of eye-catching performances for Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership. An honourable mention, too, for the Scarlets’ Ryan Conbeer.
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- Owen Watkin, Ospreys
A nod to Exeter-bound Corey Baldwin who could flourish and push himself back into contention, though this spot is an easy call with Watkin available. In addition to already breaking through for Wales, Watkin has been a consistent and effective performer in an Ospreys team that has struggled to live up to the glories of their past.
- Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Ospreys
Again, there are no shortage of potential options here for Wales, with Kieran Williams and Aneurin Owen offering a lot of potential, albeit if relatively unproven at the senior level currently. Thomas-Wheeler is still making his way, but he combines the innate physical ability that is needed to flourish at inside centre, with a solid distribution skill set that allows him to hurt teams in multiple ways in a dynamic and versatile midfield.
- Owen Lane, Cardiff Blues
Lane’s rise over the past couple of seasons has been noteworthy and won him his senior debut for Wales last year. Like Watkin, he has been a part of a regional side that has had its fair share of struggles in recent campaigns, although that hasn’t prevented him from positively impacting the side and turning in consistent performances.
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- Jarrod Evans, Cardiff Blues
Evans’ place here will come under plenty of threat from Sam Costelow and Lloyd in the coming seasons, but for now he is the next in line for the 10 jersey. The fly-half has already made his international debut and has seemingly surpassed Sam Davies as the heir apparent to Dan Biggar’s vice-like grip on the starting fly-half spot.
- Reuben Morgan-Williams, Ospreys
Electric around the fringes and boasting a sharp pass, Morgan-Williams is built in the mould of the Gareth Davies and Tomos Williams one-two punch that has brought so much success for Wales in recent seasons. He has sevens experience under his belt, too, and could be just a consistent run of games away from truly announcing himself on the senior stage.
- Rhys Carré, Saracens
If one of the Welsh regions can lure Carré back to Wales it will be a major coup for Pivac, with the athletically gifted loosehead one of the most promising players he has to call upon. He has taken his opportunities with Saracens well and is beginning to make good on the extraordinary levels of promise that he showed in the U20s.
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- Dewi Lake, Ospreys
The Wales U20 captain from last season, Lake impressed everyone with the set-piece foundations he showed, as well as a more than solid contribution in the loose. Ryan Elias and Elliot Dee will have stronger claims on succeeding Ken Owens at present, but don’t be surprised to see Lake fully in the mix with them over the coming seasons.
- Leon Brown, Dragons
Bath’s Archie Griffin will be worth keeping an eye on, although it is senior international Brown who is currently the leading contender for Wales at the position in this age group. The Dragons will face a challenge keeping hold of Brown beyond next season, with plenty of interest in the tighthead from abroad and the other Welsh regions.
- Jac Price, Scarlets
Price is still young in second row terms, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t know how to use his size effectively on the pitch. It’s going to be a challenge for Wales to fill the void left by the inevitable departure of the veteran Alun Wyn Jones and they will need players like Price to be ready to step up and impress at the Guinness PRO14 level.
- Max Williams, Dragons
A more mobile option than Price, Williams fits the mould of the modern second row that can also cover on the blindside, something which is becoming more and more en vogue. He is part of a cadre of talented Dragons forwards that have come through in recent seasons and should help form the core of the region’s pack moving forward.
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- Aaron Wainwright, Dragons
Another Dragon here and there’s an honourable mention due for Harrison Keddie, with the versatile back rower an option at all three positions among the loose forwards. Wainwright was one of Wales’ standout players at the Rugby World Cup in Japan and looks to be locking down the six jersey for club and country at a canter.
- Taine Basham, Dragons
As ever in Wales, there is no shortage of options on the openside, with Will Jones, Tommy Reffell and Dan Davis chief among those pressing claims for recognition. Basham is a rare talent, though, and one who could yet find a home anywhere in the back row, much the same as his regional teammate, Keddie. Irrespective of where he does eventually pack down, it won’t be long before he is involved with the senior Wales side.
- Jac Morgan, Scarlets
A tough call between Morgan and Cardiff Blues’ Sam Moore, although the latter hasn’t quite kicked on as a senior player in the way that was hoped back when he was in the age-grades. Morgan, meanwhile, is beginning to take his opportunities with the Scarlets and offers a valuable ball-carrying element than it is not currently in abundance in Wales, due to the plethora of hard-working and jackalling flanks available.
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments