Wales national under-20 rugby union team

Last updated
Wales Under-20
Union Welsh Rugby Union
Emblem(s)The Prince of Wales's feathers
Ground(s) Eirias Stadium, Colwyn Bay [1]
Coach(es)Richard Whiffin
Captain(s) Harri Ackerman
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Team kit
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Change kit
First international
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales 15–28 England Flag of England.svg
(1 February 2008)
Largest win
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales 74–3 Samoa Flag of Samoa.svg
(12 June 2012)
Largest defeat
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 92–0 Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
(14 June 2011)
World Cup
Appearances12 (First in 2008)
Best resultRunners up, 2013

The Wales national Under 20 rugby team is for Welsh rugby union players aged 20 or under on 1 January of the year during which they are selected.

Contents

Under 20 age grade rugby came into existence, as a result of the IRB combining the Under 19 Rugby World Championship and Under 21 Rugby World Championship into a single IRB Junior World Championship tournament. [2] They also compete in the Six Nations Under 20s Championship.

Six Nations Under-20 Championship

Wales finished second in the 2008 tournament, losing only to England. [3]

In 2013 Wales were denied a Grand Slam in their final match against England, and ultimately placing second on points difference. [4]

Wales finally achieved a Grand Slam and their first U20 title in 2016, defeating Italy on the final week 35–6, having been level 6–6 at half time. [5] They also secured their first Triple Crown at this age group. [6]

In 2023, the side did not win a single match, leading to their first winless tournament of the U20 era. [7]

Ahead of the 2024 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, Richard Whiffin was named as head coach, replacing Mark Jones who joined the Ospreys. [8]

Junior World Championships

In June 2008 Wales hosted the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship. As hosts they played all their group matches at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, starting against Italy on Friday 6 June, before further ties against Japan and France. [9] Wales won all three group matches before losing the semi-final to New Zealand and subsequently losing the 3rd place play-off to South Africa.

For the tournament the same management team remained from the 2008 U20 Six Nations; head coach Patrick Horgan and assistant coaches Rob Appleyard and Wayne Jones. Sam Warbuton remained as captain. [10]

For the next two Junior World championships, Wales alongside France will have to start the pool stages with a three-point deficit, following a brawl between the two sides in the 2008 tournament. [11]

At the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship the Welsh squad won 2 games in the preliminary round against Samoa and Fiji while losing to New Zealand. At the playoffs for the 5th–8th place they first drew with Argentina 19–19 but lost in a drop goal shootout 9–8 and then met Fiji for a second time, again winning by 39–15 to finish in 7th place.

In 2011, after winning their opening game 34–8 against Argentina they were on the receiving end of a 92–0 thrashing by New Zealand in Italy, a record defeat for the side.

In 2012 Wales beat the baby All Blacks 9–6, the first time New Zealand have ever been defeated in the competition. This was also the first Welsh win against New Zealand at any level since 1954. However, later in the tournament Wales lost 30-6 to New Zealand in the semi-final.

2013 was the sides most successful year, making it to the final, where they faced England. Wales lead 15–3 at half time, but ultimately lost 23–15. [12]

Ahead of the 2023 Junior World Championship, former international wing Mark Jones was appointed as head coach, replacing Byron Hayward. [7]

Players

Current squad

This is the Wales Under 20 squad for the 2024 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. [13]

PlayerPositionClub
Will Austin Hooker Flag of England.svg Sale Sharks
Harry Thomas Hooker Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets
Evan Wood Hooker Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff Met
Freddie Chapman Prop Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Kian Hire Prop Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Jordan Morris Prop Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dragons
Patrick Nelson Prop Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg RGC1404
Sam Scott Prop Flag of England.svg Midlands Central
Louie Trevett Prop Flag of England.svg Bristol Bears
Tom Golder Lock Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Jonny Green Lock Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Lewis Marsh Lock Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Nick Thomas Lock Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dragons
Osian Thomas Lock Flag of England.svg Leicester Tigers
Harri Beddall Back Row Flag of England.svg Leicester Tigers
Owen Conquer Back Row Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ebbw Vale
Lucas de la Rua Back Row Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff
Luca Giannini Back Row Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets
Morgan Morse Back Row Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Will Plessis Back Row Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets
Ieuan Davies Scrum-half Flag of England.svg Bath
Rhodri Lewis Scrum-half Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
Lucca Setaro Scrum-half Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets
Harri Ford Fly-half Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg RGC1404
Harri Wilde Fly-half Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff
Harri Ackerman Centre Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dragons
Louie Hennessey Centre Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff
Gabe McDonald Centre Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets
Macs Page Centre Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets
Aidan Boshoff Wing Flag of England.svg Bristol Bears
Walker Price Wing Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dragons
Harri Rees-Weldon Wing Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dragons
Kodi Stone Wing Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff
Huw Anderson Fullback Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dragons
Scott Delnevo Fullback Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Aberavon
Matty Young Fullback Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff

Award winners

The following Wales U20s players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2008: [14]

World Rugby Junior Player of the Year
YearNomineesWinners
2013 Sam Davies Sam Davies

Management

PositionName
Head coachRichard Whiffin
Assistant coach Richie Pugh
Defence coachScott Sneddon
Forwards coach Sam Hobbs
Strength & conditioningRhodri Williams
Team manager Andy Lloyd

Results and statistics

Junior World Championships
YearPWDLPFPADiffBPPtsPool placePlay-offsFinal position
2008 33008539+462141st(Semifinals) Lost to New Zealand 31–6
(3rd Place Final) Lost to South Africa 43–18		4th
2009 320110758+49272nd(5th–8th Semifinals) Beat Ireland 19–17
(5th Place Final) Lost to France 68–13		6th
2010 32016359+4082nd(5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to Argentina 19–19

(9–8 in drop goal shootout)
(7th Place Final) Beat Fiji 39–15

7th
2011 320190106-162103rd(5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to Fiji 34–20

(7th Place Final) Beat Ireland 38–24

7th
2012 330012727+1002111st(Semifinals) Lost to New Zealand 30–6

(3rd Place Final) Beat Argentina 25–17

3rd
2013 33009344+491131st(Semifinals) Beat South Africa 18–17

(Finals) Lost to England 23–15

2nd
2014 32018257+25192nd(5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to France 19–18

(7th Place Final) Beat Samoa 20–3

7th
2015 31029252+40153rd(5th–8th Semifinals) Beat Ireland 22–12

(5th Place Final) Lost to Australia 28–23

6th
2016 31025253-1373rd(5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to New Zealand 71–12

(7th Place Final) Beat Scotland 42–19

7th
2017 31029378+15263rd(5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to Scotland 29–25

(7th Place Final) Beat Italy 25–24

7th
2018 32015480-26082nd(5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to Argentina 39–15

(7th Place Final) Beat Italy 34–17

7th
2019 32018785+2193rd(5th–8th Semifinals) Beat New Zealand 8–7

(5th Place Final) Lost to England 45–26

6th
2023 31028689-3373rd(5th–8th Semifinals) Beat Georgia 40–21

(5th Place Final) Lost to Australia 57–33

6th
Under 20 Six Nations Championships
SeasonPWDLPPosition
2007511334th
2008 540182nd
2009 510425th
2010 530263rd
2011 521253rd
2012 520344th
2013 540182nd
2014 530263rd
2015 540183rd
2016 5500101st (Grand Slam)
2017 5302143rd
2018 5203105th
2019 5203104th
2020 52038Tournament suspended
2021 520394th
2022 510465th
2023 500536th

Honours

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References

  1. ↑ Wales Under 20 venue
  2. ↑ WRU: IRB Junior World Championships: Wales 2008: About the Tournament
  3. ↑ "Historic Under-20 Six Nations Results". Under-20 Six Nations. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  4. ↑ "Wales U20 15-28 England U20". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  5. ↑ "Wales U20 35-6 Italy U20". BBC Sport. 2016-03-18. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  6. ↑ "England U20 16-42 Wales U20". BBC Sport. 2016-03-11. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  7. 1 2 James, Ben (2023-06-07). "Wales name squad for World Rugby U20s Championship". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  8. ↑ Thomas, Steffan (2023-12-14). "Wales U20s appoint 'talented' new head coach as they look to brighter future". Wales Online. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  9. ↑ WRU: IRB Junior World Championships: Wales 2008: Fixtures & Results
  10. ↑ "Horgan announces Wales U20 JWC squad". Welsh Rugby Union. 2008-05-07. Retrieved 2008-05-17.
  11. ↑ "Brawl teams given suspended fines". BBC News. 2008-06-17. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  12. ↑ "Wales U20 15-23 England Under-20". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  13. ↑ "Ackerman to lead Wales U20s after Woodman injury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  14. ↑ "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
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