Six Cardiff Rugby young guns have been named in the Wales U20s squad to take on England U20s tomorrow, with another arriving this summer. 

Elijah Evans, Sion Davies and Cam Tyler-Grocott all start while Lloyd Lucas, Steffan Emanuel and Osian Darwin-Lewis are named among the replacements. 

Tom Cottle, who joins the club this summer, is also on the bench, while a host of former Cardiff products also feature. 

The fixture is 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. 

Following this Friday’s fixture against England, Wales U20s switch to the Arms Park, where they host their Italian counterparts on Friday, June 13. 

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) 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.