Scarlets hooker Harry Thomas and prop Jac Pritchard have been named in the Wales U20s matchday squad to take on France in their opening fixture of the 2025 U20 Six Nations in Vannes on Saturday (KO 8.10pm S4C).
Thomas starts at hooker, while Pritchard is set to make his U20s debut from the bench.
It will be the first time Wales have played at the Stade de la Rabine since 2019 where a side containing seven of Warren Gatland’s current senior side suffered defeat.
There are four uncapped players in the starting XV with Dragons half-back Logan Franklin the only back making his debut behind the scrum.
Up front Bristol Bears second row Kenzie Jenkins joins back row partners Deian Gwynne (Gloucester) and Evan Minto (Dragons) as the new caps in the engine room.
“It was a tough team to pick as a lot of guys have put their hands up over the past couple of weeks,” admitted head coach Richard Whiffin. “Where we’ve come to is a team full of pace, speed and power and ultimately in skill and that is how we want to attack the game on Saturday.
“We’ve got boys with experience who know how we want to play and can help the younger boys in terms of our game model. The younger guys come in with a fresh view and new ideas and have an opportunity to push our game forward.”
France will begin the game as pre-match favourites in front of a partisan crowd but Whiffin said his side are aiming to go into the game and express themselves.
“It’s important defensively we get off the line and take their space away and bring our jackal game into it and from an attack point of view, being able to put our speed and pace into the game and being smart around our kicking game will be vital,” he said.
Wales U20s v France U20s, Sat 1st Feb, Stade de la Rabine, 8.10pm
15 Scot Delnevo (Aberavon/Aberafan)
14 Harry Rees-Weldon (Dragons/Dreigiau)
13 Elijah Evans (Cardiff Rugby/Caerdydd)
12 Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby/Caerdydd)
11 Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears/ Bryste)
10 Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby/Caerdydd)
9 Logan Franklin (Dragons/Dreigiau);
1 Ioan Emanuel (Bath Rugby/Caerfaddon)
2 Harry Thomas (Scarlets)
3 Sam Scott (Bristol Bears/ Bryste)
4 Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears/Bryste)
5 Nick Thomas (Dragons/Dreigiau)
6 Deian Gwynne (Gloucester/Caerloyw)
7 Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers/ Caerlŷr) Capt
8 Evan Minto (Dragons/Dreigiau)
Replacements
16 Saul Hurley (Aberavon/Aberafan)
17 Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears/Bryste)
18 Jac Pritchard (Scarlets)
19 Tom Cottle (RGC)
20 Dan Gemine (Ospreys/Gweilch)
21 Carwyn Edwards (Cardiff Met/Met Caerdydd)
22 Harri Ford (Dragons/Dreigiau)
23 Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby/Caerdydd)