Three Caerphilly borough players in squad for Wales’ first Six Nations Under-20s match

Former Newbridge youth star Harri Ackerman will lead out Wales’ U20s in their first Six Nations game against Scotland.

Head coach Richard Whiffin has also named Huw Anderson – a former Caerphilly RFC youth prospect, who now plays for the Dragons – in the starting lineup.

Meanwhile, ex-Senghenydd and Cross Keys man Harri Ford, who now plays his rugby with Rygbi Gogledd Cymru, is on the bench.

Whiffin has made 13-changes from the side that lost to Scotland last year, in a campaign that saw Wales finish bottom of the table.

The side to face Scotland:

15 Huw Anderson (Dragons)
14 Harry Rees-Weldon (Dragons)
13 Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby)
12 Harri Ackerman (Dragons – Captain)
11 Walker Price (Dragons)
10 Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby)
9 Ieuan Davies (Bath Rugby)
1 Jordan Morris (Dragons)
2 Harry Thomas (Scarlets)
3 Kian Hire (Ospreys)
4 Jonny Green (Harlequins)
5 Nick Thomas (Dragons)
6 Osian Thomas (Leicester Tigers)
7 Lucas de la Rua (Cardiff Rugby)
8 Morgan Morse (Ospreys)

Replacements:

16 Evan Wood (Cardiff Met)
17 Freddie Chapman (Ospreys)
18 Sam Scott (Midlands Central)
19 Owen Conquer (Ebbw Vale)
20 Harri Beddall (Leicester Tigers)
21 Rhodri Lewis (Ospreys)
22 Harri Ford (RGC)
23 Macs Page (Scarlets)

Ahead of the game, Whiffin said: “The boys have trained well for the last couple of weeks and the guys who have been selected to play have earned the right through their training and regional performances. We’re now just excited to finish off the week and get up to north Wales and give it a crack.

“You look at how much momentum can be created from an early victory. It can set you up well for the rest of the championship and will build confidence in the group.

“That result on Friday is going to be massively important but we also want to produce a good performance in terms of what we’ve been practising for the last few weeks – we want to get out on the field and then hopefully that takes care of the result.”

Wales U20s v Scotland U20s is due to kick-off at the Stadiwm CSM, Colwyn Bay, at 6.45pm on Friday February 2.