Cardiff’s Alex Mann will continue as captain of Wales under-20 for this season’s Six Nations Championship campaign.
The academy back row is joined by five of his club team-mates as head coach Byron Hayward names a 38-man squad ahead of the Championship opener next week.
Fellow back row Ethan Fackrell, who has impressed at Indigo Group Premiership level for Cardiff RFC and RGC this season, is also given the nod, alongside front row trio Rhys Barratt, Efan Daniel and Nathan Evans.
With the likes of Mason Grady, Ryan Wilkins and Ben Burnell ruled out with injury, Cameron Winnett is the Blue and Blacks’ sole representative amongst the backs. The young full back impressed on his senior Cardiff debut, scoring a try in a composed performance against Harlequins in the Champions Cup in December.
Cardiff Met prop Joe Cowell also featured in Europe for Cardiff last month, and is included amongst the looseheads. Cardiff University’s Alexander Ashton is another player who features after impressing in BUCS Rugby.
A further seven players have featured in the Cardiff pathway system but are now playing their rugby elsewhere - Ospreys’ Ellis Fackrell, Lewis Jones, Benji Williams and Harvey Nash; Scarlets outside half Josh Phillips and exiles duo Morgan Veness and Jac Lloyd, who ply their trade with Ealing Trailfinders and Bristol Bears respectively.
Another Blue and Blacks connection comes in the former of Harlequins centre Bryn Bradley, brother of current academy flanker and former Wales under-20 international, Gwilym.
Wales kick off their campaign against Ireland at Musgrave Park next Friday (February 4) and will once again play their home fixtures at Colwyn Bay’s Parc Eirias.
FORWARDS
Rhys Barratt (Cardiff Rugby)
Cameron Jones (Ospreys)
Joe Cowell (Cardiff Met)
Connor Chapman (Dragons)
Efan Daniel (Cardiff Rugby)
Morgan Veness (Ealing Trailfinders)
Lewis Morgan (Scarlets)
Nathan Evans (Cardiff Rugby)
Ellis Fackrell (Ospreys)
Adam Williams (Dragons)
Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs)
Alexander Ashton (Cardiff University)
Joe Peard (Dragons)
Lewis Jones (Ospreys)
Benji Williams (Ospreys)
Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – CAPT)
Ryan Woodman (Dragons)
Tom Cowan (Bath)
Ethan Fackrell (Cardiff Rugby)
Morgan Morse (Ospreys)
Ben Moa (Dragons)
BACKS
Harri Williams (Scarlets)
Morgan Lloyd (Dragons)
Harvey Nash (Ospreys)
Jac Lloyd (Bristol Bears)
Daniel Edwards (Ospreys)
Josh Phillips (Scarlets)
Joe Hawkins (Ospreys)
Eddie James (Scarlets)
Bryn Bradley (Harlequins)
Callum Dodd (Ospreys)
Tom Florence (Ospreys)
Oli Andrew (Dragons)
Joshua Hathaway (Scarlets)
Harri Houston (Ospreys)
Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby)
Iestyn Hopkins (Ospreys)
Joe Westwood (Dragons)
Wales U20 fixtures
Fri 4 Feb – Ireland U20 v Wales U20, Musgrave Park – 8pm
Fri 11 Feb – Wales U20 v Scotland U20 – Parc Eirias – 8pm
Fri 25 Feb – England U20 v Wales U20 – Castle Park – 7pm
Thurs 10 March – Wales U20 v France U20 – Parc Eirias – 8pm
Sun 20 March – Wales U20 v Italy U20 – Parc Eirias – 2pm
Tickets available at: www.venuecymru.co.uk for home games