The Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed that from next season Wales will play A team fixtures for the first time in 14 years.
Wales A last played a match in April 2002, before the team was scrapped for cost-cutting measures the following season.
The Under 20s has since become the national side’s second-string team.
The last Wales A team featured the likes of Tom Shanklin and Shane Williams, who went on to nail down places in the national side’s first team, and the resurrection of Wales A is aimed at helping bridge the gap between regional, club, and Test level rugby, as well as binding players to the national side.
Currently, Wales nominates its Under 20 side as its capture team, which means any player who turns out for the side can only represent Wales at senior level.
In comparison, England and Ireland nominate their A sides, called the Saxons and Wolfhounds respectively.
Wales A could become the new capture team for the national side, meaning only matches against opposition A sides would bind players.
WRU chief executive Martyn Williams said: “Outside of the national squad we know we simply don’t have the required strength in depth, and the only way we are going to improve that is by exposing players to situations they find difficult.
“We will reconstitute the Wales A team for next season and believe getting these fixtures up and running can help both ourselves and the regions by exposing the next cadre of players to a different, higher level of competition.
“If we can identify at Under 20 level and upwards those players who can handle the intensity, and help to improve those who can’t just yet, we can actually move forward quite rapidly.
“We will pick teams where we are giving players an experience, where it is from a travel or intensity perspective.
“A big part of the job is making sure that the Wales A team and Under 20s are about development and then winning, but in that order.”
Geraint John, Head of Rugby Performance at the WRU, added: “The A team will provide the missing link for some players and ultimately improve the depth of talent available to both the national squad and to the regions.
“We will be looking for the next tranche of players who will be coming through beyond 2019 and the A team will be a rich development area for us.”