Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin has placed personal growth and competition at the heart of his strategy after naming a 45-man training squad to prepare for the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship.

Players will join the national camp throughout May, depending on when their club commitments conclude, as preparations begin for a busy summer schedule. 

Wales face two test matches before heading to Italy for the main event – against England on Friday 6 June at Pontypool Park, and then Italy a week later at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday 13 June.

Whiffin believes the next few weeks will be crucial for the young players – not only to earn a place in the final squad but also to accelerate their personal development.

“The next few weeks are going to be really important for the boys. We’ve put a big focus on our individual skills and individual development,” said Whiffin.

“They’ll be working incredibly hard physically and we’ve set a mantra for the boys to improve the individual, improve the team.

“We want everyone to come out of this development block, be it whether they get on the plane or not, a better player. So there’ll be some tough work for them and it’ll be fun. But there will be a big focus on being better players at the end of it.”

The extended group includes standout performers from the U20 Six Nations campaign, as well as impressive newcomers from recent U18 and U19 fixtures – particularly following a clean sweep of victories in Vichy by the U18s. 

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Whiffin has also acknowledged form shown in Super Rygbi Cymru, using it as a platform for selection.

“This 45-man training squad is a mixture of guys that did really well during the Six Nations for us and then the U18s and U19s had a really good block post Six Nations – the U18s went and won all three games out in Vichy and there’s a number of those guys that stepped up,” said Whiffin.

“You also have the culmination of Super Rygbi Cymru – there’s boys that have been putting their hand up in the last few weeks in that competition and it gives us an opportunity to put a bit of pressure on the guys that had the jersey in the Six Nations and also prepare for what guys might step up next year.”

The first test against England – the reigning world champions at U20 level – will serve as a critical selection tool ahead of finalising the 30-player squad that will travel to Italy. That list is expected to be revealed between the two warm-up fixtures.

“Our prep’s going to be important and those two games against England and Italy will give us a great indication of where we are. We’re playing against the world champions in one prep and it’ll be a tough game against Italy as well,” Whiffin added.

“We’re going to use the England game as a selection tool and that will drop us down to our 30-player squad for the World Cup and then the Italy game will be our last opportunity to prepare before we get out to Italy for the tournament and face Argentina.”

Tickets for both matches are available on the gate at just £5 for adults, with free entry for under-16s, offering fans the chance to witness the next generation of Welsh rugby talent in action.

The 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship runs from 29 June to 19 July in Italy.

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Wales Under-20s training squad

Forwards (25): Dylan Alford (Scarlets/RGC), Harry Beddall (Dragons), Jake Bowen (Scarlets), Tom Cottle (RGC), Ioan Emanuel (Bath), Keanu Evans (Scarlets), Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs), Will Evans (Scarlets), Dan Gemine (Ospreys), Deian Gwynne (Gloucester), Saul Hurley (Aberavon), Caio James (Gloucester), Owain James (Dragons), Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol), Ryan Jones (Dragons), Evan Minto (Dragons), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Sam Scott (Bristol Bears), Cerrig Smith (Dragons), Harry Thomas (Scarlets), Nick Thomas (Dragons), Louie Trevett (Bristol), George Tuckley (Dragons), Cameron Tyler-Grocott (Cardiff), Evan Wood (Pontypool/Cardiff Met).

Backs (20): Aidan Boshoff (Bristol), Tom Bowen (Cardiff), Rhys Cummings (Cardiff), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff), Sion Davies (Cardiff), Ioan Duggan (Dragons), Lewis Edwards (Ospreys), Steff Emanuel (Cardiff), Elijah Evans (Cardiff), Harri Ford (Dragons), Logan Franklin (Dragons), Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), Ellis Lewis (Neath), Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff), Elis Price (Scarlets), Harry Rees-Weldon (Dragons), Osian Roberts (Sale Sharks), Dylan Scott (Cardiff MET), Harri Wilde (Cardiff), Jack Woods (Bath).