Wales' Under 20 home Six Nations games will be played at Cardiff Arms Park this season, the Friday fixtures forming a perfect kick-off to Six Nations weekends in the capital city.
Phil Davies' side will play their first home game of the international season against Scotland on Friday, 12 February, 7.10pm. They host France on Friday 26 February (3.30pm) ahead of the Friday night Millennium Stadium clash against Les Bleus at 8pm, while Italy Under 20s will be the opposition for the upcoming Welsh talent on Friday 19 March (7.10pm).
Wales Under 20 head coach Davies said, "Cardiff is the central attraction in Wales on a Six Nations weekend and we hope that Welsh fans and those of our opposition will support the next generation of talent at the Arms Park this season. Our matches will kick off the Six Nations weekends and I'm sure holding the games at the Arms Park will add something extra to the occasion, turning the whole weekend into a festival of rugby."
Davies today named his 26 man Six Nations squad, with 50% of the players having gained experience at this level last season.
He also named sixteen further players (eight reserve players and eight others who are part of the wider squad) who could come into contention depending on fitness and form of themselves and the players named in the initial group.
Twelve of the squad have gained professional experience - Blues trio Rhys Williams, Josh Navidi and Rhys Downes, Ospreys pair James King and Matthew Jarvis, Dragons Dan Watchurst, Toby Faletau, James Thomas and Matthew Pewtner, Bristol's Jack Gadd and Scarlets Gareth Davies and Simon Gardiner.
Davies said, "There is added experience in the side this year and we have also built some extra strength in depth into the squad with quality new players coming into the group. Wayne Proctor has done a lot of conditioning work with some of our developing players to raise their standards and Tavis Knoyle and Ashley Beck, although still eligible for this age group, have moved into the professional Regional system which is a positive reflection on the international player pathway and the Regions.
"We are thrilled with the support we have received from the Regions and especially the WRU Regional Performance Managers who work with our young players on a daily basis.
"The Under 20 Six Nations is the next step on the educational pathway for these players. We have had a number of excellent training sessions building on our Regional skills interventions and I'm confident we are where we want to be as we move into the New Year."
Wales Under 20 Six Nations squad 2010:
Forwards: Dan Watchurst (Dragons academy / Bedwas), Lewis Smout (Blues academy / Pontypridd), Simon Gardiner (Scarlets academy / Carmarthen Quins), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets academy / Llandovery), Rhys Williams (Blues academy / Pontypridd), Ieuan Davies ( Glamorgan Wanderers), James King (Ospreys academy / Aberavon), Macauley Cook (Blues academy / Pontypridd), Lloyd Peers (Ospreys academy / Bridgend), James Thomas (Dragons academy / Ebbw Vale), Edward Siggery (Llandovery), Josh Navidi (Blues academy / Glamorgan Wanderers), Toby Faletau (Dragons academy / Cross Keys), Morgan Allen (Pontypool)
Backs:
Rhys Downes (Blues academy / Pontypridd), Gareth Davies (Scarlets academy / Llanelli), Matthew Jarvis (Ospreys / Aberavon), Steven Shingler (Llanelli / Llangennech), Scott Williams (Scarlets academy / Llanelli), Owen Williams (Blues academy / Cardiff), Jack Gadd (Bristol), Matthew Pewtner (Dragons / Cross Keys), James Loxton (Blues academy / Cardiff), Kristian Phillips (Ospreys academy / Neath), Dan Fish (Blues academy / Glamorgan Wanderers), Lee Rees (Scarlets academy/ Llandovery)
Reserve players:
David Blackwell (Gogledd Cymru), Tristan Davies (Scarlets academy / Llanelli), Joel Galley (Scarlets/ Llangennech), Rhys Jenkins (Dragons academy/ Ebbw Vale), Ben Thomas (Ospreys / Aberavon), Dean Gunter (Pontypridd), Adam Hughes (Dragons academy/ Newport), Ben John (Ospreys / Aberavon)
Wider squad players:
Will Taylor (Ospreys /Bonymaen), Greg George (Llandovery/ Llangennech), Rhydian Wilson (Dragons academy / Newbridge), Ellis Lloyd (Carmarthen Quins), Daniel Davies (Ospreys), Lewis Robling (Dragons academy/ Newbridge), Dale Ford (Scarlets academy / Llanelli), Nicky Williams (Dragons academy / Pontypool)
For further information, contact Liz Jones, WRU Communications Manager tel 07736 056669 / lizjones@wru.co.uk
