Cardiff RFC’s Tom Cottle who made his debut for the club against Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404 will captain Wales U20s tomorrow afternoon against Scotland U20s at the Wern, Merthyr (KO.12.30pm)
Cottle is joined by Osian Darwin-Lewis, Rhys Cummings and Callum Donaghue-Proud who are named in head coach Richard Whiffin’s side.
All four have played for the Blue and Blacks so far in Super Rygbi Cymru this season.
On the second row, Cottle captaining the side, Whiffin added: “Tom last year played really well for us, brought lots of energy but he also has a calm influence on the group, he’s a lineout leader and we just think his understanding of the game plan and on how we want to play will compliment some of the game drivers around him.”
The U20 clash against Scotland and next week’s U19 encounter against England at Ystrad Mynach has given the Welsh management an opportunity to cast their net wide as they narrow down selection with the Six Nations in mind.
“Over the course of the U19s game against France, the U20s game against Scotland tomorrow and next week’s U19 game against England we’ll probably have 50-60 players play.
“That is without a handful of players that are playing Champions Cup rugby like Deian Gwynn and Challenge Cup rugby like Tom Bowen and Steffan Emanuel that will come back into the set-up post-Christmas,” he said.
Wales U20 v Scotland U20, The Wern, Merthyr RFC, Fri 12 Dec, KO 12.30
15 Lewis Edwards (Ospreys)
14 Evan Morris (Bristol Bears)
13 Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby/RFC)
12 Luc Anfield (Bath University)
11 Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby/RFC)
10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets)
9 Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby);
1 George Tuckley (Dragons)
2 Tom Howe (Cardiff Rugby)
3 Jac Pritchard (Scarlets)
4 Oscar Rees (Gloucester)
5 Tom Cottle (Cardiff Rugby/RFC – Capt)
6 Osian Williams (Scarlets)
7 Ryan Jones (Dragons)
8 Evan Minto (Dragons)
Replacements
16 James Talamai (Dragons)
17 George Leyland (Bristol Bears)
18 Callum Donaghue-Proud (Cardiff Rugby/RFC)
19 Osian Williams (Bristol Bears)
20 Joe Denman (Scarlets)
21 Cerrig Smith (Dragons)
22 Ellis Lewis (Swansea RFC)
23 Steff Jac Jones (Scarlets)
24 Thomas Williams (Scarlets)
25 Jack Hoskins (Ospreys)
26 Joseff Jones (Cardiff Rugby/RFC)