Head coach Richard Whiffin has named his Wales U20 side to take on England U20 at Pontypool Park on Friday 6 June (KO 3.30pm).
Ospreys' Dan Gemine and Lewis Edwards are named in the squad.
In the first of two warm-up games prior to the U20 World Championship which begins in Italy on June 29 with an opening match against Argentina, Whiffin has handed the captaincy responsibilities to Dragons No.8 Evan Minto in a side showing a number of changes from the team which prevented England from winning the Grand Slam in the final game of the 2025 U20 Six Nations.
“We’ve had guys in camp for three weeks working super hard and they deserve an opportunity,” said Whiffin.
“We said to the group at the start of the campaign we were going to use it as a selection game in terms of whittling the squad down from 45 down to 30 so there will be guys playing on Friday night putting their hands up for the plane ticket to Italy.
“So pressure goes onto those guys but ultimately if they can perform on Friday in a big game against England then it sets them up well for the World Cup.”
Minto is part of a new-look back row which includes Dragons’ teammate Ryan Jones and Gloucester flanker Caio James. Minto had an impressive Six Nations campaign and no hesitation in handing over the captaincy responsibilities in place of Harry Beddall, who will start from the bench.
“He is a very emotional leader but I think, alongside our tactical leaders in the squad, he will get the balance right,” said Whiffin.
“He is a local Pontypool guy plus we wanted to see a slightly different back row. From the performances he put in during the Six Nations, he has certainly put his hand up for the captaincy role.”
Wales U20 v England U20, Fri 6 June, Pontypool Park, 3.30pm
15 Lewis Edwards (Ospreys)
14 Ioan Duggan (Dragons)
13 Elijah Evans (Cardiff Rugby)
12 Elis Price (Scarlets)
11 Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears)
10 Harri Ford (Dragons)
9 Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby);
1 Cam Tyler-Grocott (Cardiff Rugby)
2 Saul Hurley (Aberavon)
3 Owain James (Dragons)
4 Dan Gemine (Ospreys)
5 Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears)
6 Ryan Jones (Dragons)
7 Caio James (Gloucester)8 Evan Minto (Dragons - Capt)
Replacements
16 Evan Wood (Pontypool/Cardiff Met)
17 Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears)
18 Jac Pritchard (Scarlets)
19 Tom Cottle (RGC)
20 Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs)
21 Deian Gwynne (Gloucester)
22 Harry Beddall (Dragons)
23 Logan Franklin (Dragons)
24 Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby)
25 Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met)
26 Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby)
27 Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby)
28 Jack Woods (Bath Rugby)
29 Dylan Alford (Scarlets)
WALES U20 FIXTURES
Friday 6 June: Wales v England
Pontypool Park - KO 15.30 Tickets available on the gate priced £5 adults with free entry for under 16s.
Friday 13 June: Wales v Italy
Cardiff Arms Park – KO 16.30 Tickets available on the gate priced £5 adults with free entry for under 16s.
