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Wales national under-20 rugby union team

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Wales Under-20
UnionWelsh 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
Team kit
Change kit
First international
Wales Wales 15–28 England England
(1 February 2008)
Largest win
Wales Wales 74–3 Samoa Samoa
(12 June 2012)
Largest defeat
New Zealand New Zealand 92–0 Wales Wales
(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.

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

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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

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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

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Current squad

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

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

Award winners

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

World Rugby Junior Player of the Year
Year Nominees Winners
2013 Sam Davies Sam Davies

Management

[edit]
Position Name
Head coach Richard Whiffin
Assistant coach Richie Pugh
Defence coach Scott Sneddon
Forwards coach Sam Hobbs
Strength & conditioning Rhodri Williams
Team manager Andy Lloyd

Results and statistics

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Junior World Championships
Year P W D L PF PA Diff BP Pts Pool place Play-offs Final position
2008 3 3 0 0 85 39 +46 2 14 1st (Semifinals) Lost to New Zealand 31–6
(3rd Place Final) Lost to South Africa 43–18		 4th
2009 3 2 0 1 107 58 +49 2 7 2nd (5th–8th Semifinals) Beat Ireland 19–17
(5th Place Final) Lost to France 68–13		 6th
2010 3 2 0 1 63 59 +4 0 8 2nd (5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to Argentina 19–19

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

7th
2011 3 2 0 1 90 106 -16 2 10 3rd (5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to Fiji 34–20

(7th Place Final) Beat Ireland 38–24

7th
2012 3 3 0 0 127 27 +100 2 11 1st (Semifinals) Lost to New Zealand 30–6

(3rd Place Final) Beat Argentina 25–17

3rd
2013 3 3 0 0 93 44 +49 1 13 1st (Semifinals) Beat South Africa 18–17

(Finals) Lost to England 23–15

2nd
2014 3 2 0 1 82 57 +25 1 9 2nd (5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to France 19–18

(7th Place Final) Beat Samoa 20–3

7th
2015 3 1 0 2 92 52 +40 1 5 3rd (5th–8th Semifinals) Beat Ireland 22–12

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

6th
2016 3 1 0 2 52 53 -1 3 7 3rd (5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to New Zealand 71–12

(7th Place Final) Beat Scotland 42–19

7th
2017 3 1 0 2 93 78 +15 2 6 3rd (5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to Scotland 29–25

(7th Place Final) Beat Italy 25–24

7th
2018 3 2 0 1 54 80 -26 0 8 2nd (5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to Argentina 39–15

(7th Place Final) Beat Italy 34–17

7th
2019 3 2 0 1 87 85 +2 1 9 3rd (5th–8th Semifinals) Beat New Zealand 8–7

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

6th
2023 3 1 0 2 86 89 -3 3 7 3rd (5th–8th Semifinals) Beat Georgia 40–21

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

6th
Under 20 Six Nations Championships
Season P W D L P Position
2007 5 1 1 3 3 4th
2008 5 4 0 1 8 2nd
2009 5 1 0 4 2 5th
2010 5 3 0 2 6 3rd
2011 5 2 1 2 5 3rd
2012 5 2 0 3 4 4th
2013 5 4 0 1 8 2nd
2014 5 3 0 2 6 3rd
2015 5 4 0 1 8 3rd
2016 5 5 0 0 10 1st (Grand Slam)
2017 5 3 0 2 14 3rd
2018 5 2 0 3 10 5th
2019 5 2 0 3 10 4th
2020 5 2 0 3 8 Tournament suspended
2021 5 2 0 3 9 4th
2022 5 1 0 4 6 5th
2023 5 0 0 5 3 6th

Honours

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References

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  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. ^ a b 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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