Eight Gwent lads named in Wales U20s training squad for Six Nations

Seven Dragons have been named in the Wales U20s extended training squad ahead of the upcoming Six Nations campaign.

Evan Minto, who featured in last summer’s U20s World Cup, returns to the squad alongside call-ups for George Tuckley, James Talamai, Nathan Davies, Cerrig Smith, Carter Pritchard and Rhys Cole.

Bath’s Jack Woods, son of former Cross Keys RFC and Ebbw Vale RFC coach Greg Woods, is also included.

The squad of 45, selected by Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin, is preparing for a warm-up match against Cardiff RFC at the Cardiff Arms Park on Friday, January 16.

Whiffin said: “It’s a great opportunity for us to get time in with the boys in preparation before we begin the Six Nations.

“It’s an opportunity for us to connect with the players – it’s an opportunity for those guys to put their hands up before we whittle the squad down to 36/37 for the Six Nations.”

The final Six Nations squad will be announced the following week.

Whiffin said that the warm-up fixture will be valuable preparation.

He said: “We’re incredibly grateful Cardiff have taken the fixture with us – it’s a good time, two or three weeks out from the first game against England at Northampton to fine tune the things we’ve been doing in training.”

Other names in the squad include Ospreys’ Dylan James and Scarlets’ Jac Pritchard, Cardiff’s Sion Davies and Cardiff Rugby’s Tom Bowen, and Scarlets’ Hudson Nevin and Keanu Evans.

The Dragons’ young prospects will be hoping to secure their places in the final squad and represent Wales in the U20s Six Nations Championship, starting with the clash against England in Northampton.

The warm-up match against Cardiff RFC will kick off at 5.30pm.

Eight Gwent lads named in Wales U20s training squad for Six Nations

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