Wales U20s make four changes for Ireland
2025 Under-20 Six Nations: Italy v WalesVenue: Rodney Parade Date: Friday, 21 February Kick-off: 19:45 GMTCoverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app.
Wales Under-20s head coach Richard Whiffin has made four changes for Friday's Under-20 Six Nations game against Ireland at Rodney Parade.Bath Rugby's Jack Woods replaces Scott Delnevo at full-back in the only backline change.Bath's Ioan Emanuel returns to loosehead in place of Louie Trevett while RGC's Tom Cottle comes into the second row, with Dan Gemine moving from lock to the blindside in place of Deian Gwynne.Wales, who lost 63-19 in France in round one, hit back with a dramatic 28-20 win in Italy a fortnight ago.They are aiming to beat Ireland for the first time since 2018 and secure back-to-back victories in the championship for the first time since 2020.
"The boys did a decent job out in Italy and we were happy with certain aspects of our play against France as well, so we've given the majority of the squad an opportunity to get a home game under their belts at Rodney Parade," said Whiffin."We're also trying to keep combinations and connections high for the reminder of the tournament."I think the boys put everything into the two opening games and we played some really good stuff in patches, and I was really pleased for the boys to get over the line against Italy."Wales Under-20s: Jack Woods; Aidan Boshoff, Osian Roberts, Steffan Emanuel, Tom Bowen; Harri Wilde, Logan Franklin; Ioan Emanuel, Harry Thomas, Sam Scott, Kenzie Jenkins, Tom Cottle, Dan Gemaine, Harry Beddall (capt), Evan MintoReplacements: Evan Wood, Louie Trevett, Owain James, Luke Evans, Caio James, Sion Davies, Harri Ford, Elijah Evans.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
33 minutes ago
- The Independent
Juventus vs Manchester City Betting Tips: City can pass Juve test
Man City to win & both teams to score - 3/1 William Hill Erling Haaland to score anytime - 10/11 Bet365 Manchester City face Juventus in the final match of their Club World Cup ground stage campaign on Thursday, with first place at stake in Group G (8pm, Channel 5). Both sides sit on six points going into the match, with qualification already assured, although Juventus sit ahead on goals scored, leaving second-place City on course for a meeting with Real Madrid in the next round. Head coach Pep Guardiola is in the early stages of trying to gel a new-look City side after a raft of early summer signings, but convincing wins over Wydad Casablanca and Al Ain suggest that the early signs are positive. Of course, the test provided by Juventus will be the toughest so far, with the Bianconeri having also convincingly won their opening two matches. However, this is a Juve side that is far weaker than in recent seasons, having finished fourth in Serie A after the sacking of Thiago Motta. New coach Igor Tudor has steadied the ship in Turin somewhat, but it remains a squad that is someay off the squad of those to have graced the Allianz Arena in recent seasons. And that is reflected in the pre-match odds, football betting sites making City the odds-on favourites to get the win they need to top the section. While City came into this competition off the back of one of their most disappointing seasons in recent memory, Guardiola's side have a real chance of a brilliant end to 2024/25 by taking home a new trophy. Despite their poor season, the Cityzens began the Club World Cup as one of the favourites, priced around 5/1 on betting sites, and their new signings – combined with the return from injury of Rodri – mean that they are more than capable of going all the way in the USA. While the FA Cup final loss meant they ended the regular season without a trophy, they had a strong end to the season and secured third place in the league, losing just one of their last 10 matches. By contrast, Juventus were well off the pace in Serie A, finishing in fourth while losing two of their last 10 and drawing three. Juve conceded 10 in their last 10 matches of the season, though their record of 17 goals scored suggests that the Italian side will have chances over the course of the 90. Let's not forget that they also beat City when the two sides faced off in the Champions League this season, further evidence that they have what it takes to open up the English side. City were in a deep malaise when the teams met in Turin and have long since climbed out of their pit. And with that in mind, we're going with City to win and both teams to score, which is prced at around 3/1 in the Club World Cup odds. Manchester City vs Juventus prediction 1: Man City to win & both teams to score – 3/1 William Hill Manchester City vs Juventus Prediction: Haaland to Make The Difference Despite his season being regarded as somewhat sub-par, the figures show that Erling Haaland still scored 32 goals for City in all competitions this season. Stats like that in a disappointing City side show that Haaland remains arguably the best striker in the world based purely on goalscoring, with the striker now having a record of 122 goals in 144 games since joining in 2022. Knee problems and an ankle injury kept the Norwegian out of several matches towards the end of the Premier League season, though he still managed to score six goals over his last 10 league matches for City. In addition, Haaland scored in consecutive games for Norway in the last international break and he added to his recent streak with a goal against Al Ain last time out. And with the 24-year-old seemingly having rediscovered his form in front of goal, we're backing him to make the difference against Juventus in Orlando, with bet365 offering odds of 10/11 for Haaland to score anytime. Juventus vs Manchester City betting offers BoyleSports are offering new customers the chance to claim £20 in free bets and a 25 per cent boost on Juventus vs Manchester City bet builders after signing up online. To qualify for the BoyleSports sign up offer, new customers need to deposit and bet £10 online on a market with odds of evens or greater. Once your qualifying offer has settled, you'll receive £20 in free bets to use on the sportsbook to use within seven days, as well as a 25 per cent bet builder boost for the Club World Cup clash between Juventus and City on Thursday evening. Customers are limited to a maximum £20 bet on their Juve vs City bet builder, and it must contain three or more selections and odds of 3/1 or greater. The maximum payout is £1,000. Bettors should always practice responsible gambling. When using gambling sites be aware that sports betting can be addictive. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies whether you're using new betting sites, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, betting apps, or any other gambling medium. Even the most knowledgeable punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses. It's particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino offers you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution. You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Chelsea transfer target Jamie Gittens left home at 13, followed footsteps of Jadon Sancho and has rejected Blues before
A former coach spoke to SunSport about his first impressions of the star Gitt him in Chelsea transfer target Jamie Gittens left home at 13, followed footsteps of Jadon Sancho and has rejected Blues before FROM playing "Wembley" in his primary-school playground in Reading to playing at Wembley in the Champions League final, Jamie Gittens has already made quite the mark in his fledgling football career. Yet the exciting winger, who will only turn 21 in August, is now starring at the Club World Cup for Borussia Dortmund and could be on the brink of a mega-bucks move to Chelsea. Advertisement 5 Jamie Gittens has followed in the steps of Jadon Sancho to become one of England's most exciting exports Credit: Getty 5 Gittens won the Under-19 European Championships with England Credit: Getty 5 He is now in line for a £55m move to Chelsea Credit: Rex The Blues have already spent £1.4billion to assemble their current squad, but club transfer chiefs are desperate to bring their former youth star back home. Reports suggest they have tabled a seven-year offer to tempt him into a Stamford Bridge return, despite a £42million bid being rejected earlier this month. Gittens - who changed his surname from Bynoe-Gittens on the advice of his father - enjoyed a breakout season in the first team of Borussia Dortmund. Across 48 games in all competitions before the Club World Cup, 34 of which he started, the England youth star netted 12 goals and added five assists. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL TOP OF THE WORLD Fans say Chelsea have 'scammed their way to CWC final' after Kane blunder His club are said to be expecting him to leave this summer, but he has already etched his name in the history books there. In October, at 20 years and 75 days old, Gittens became the youngest English player to score against Real Madrid in the Champions League. And only four months prior in June, he was starring in the Champions League final for the German side against Real, coming on as a late substitute for Jadon Sancho. In many ways Gittens is a spiritual successor to Sancho. Advertisement BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Gittens started his career at local side Caversham Trents before he was picked up by Reading aged seven, while also spending some time with Chelsea. At Under-9 level he stayed with Reading before the Blues and Arsenal showed interest in him at Under-14 level, but he chose to snub both and join Manchester City. 15 year old Jamie Bynoe-Gittens shows why he is such a special player at Man City It was a decision that was tough on him and his family due to the three-hour train journey which forced him to stay with a host family and change schools. Advertisement Despite the ordeal, Gittens said it was an easy decision to make, telling Secret Scout last year: "It was an easy decision. "I could have gone to Arsenal but I chose City because they were producing players like Brahim Diaz and Jadon Sancho back then. "At the start, I didn't really believe it. I'm from a small town in the middle of nowhere. "When they told me that they wanted me, I was just surprised, but thought that all the hard work I had put in was paying off." Advertisement Then in 2020, he completed the Sancho-inspired journey to join Dortmund, where he has since developed into one of England's brightest talents and had the chance to play alongside Jude Bellingham and Sancho. Martyn Beney, Gittens' former coach at Caversham, told SunSport last year: "A month into his training with us, we were thinking 'Christ, this boy has got some serious ability'. WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN "His dribbling was incredible, even as a six-year-old. Jamie was a shy boy behind the scenes, with a really nice, sporty family, but they didn't push him... Advertisement "They said they wanted him to be coached in a way where he could enjoy it, learn a few things along the way and can develop naturally. That's exactly what we did... "To see him develop and get this chance, which we all know is minimal percentages, from a local level, where his parents still live in the village, is a delight. 'To have mentors like Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham, who really was the first one to tell reporters, 'Watch this kid, he's coming up next' and to know he started with us, is great. It's a really nice story and one that the club is very proud of." It hasn't all been smooth sailing for Gittens though, with him suffering numerous injuries including operations on both joints and a shoulder issue dating back to when he was 14. Advertisement He has also had to make major life changes, cutting out his favourite sugary treats like chocolate and sweets in a bid to make it to the top. Fast-forward to today, and he has also lost game time since Niko Kovac was appointed on January 29, including playing just eight minutes off the bench in the final two Bundesliga games of the season. But Chelsea's interest in Gittens - who won the Under-19 European Championships with England in 2023 - has not faded, and they are set to table another bid of £55m to try and tempt Dortmund into selling. BLUE MOVERS CHELSEA have become adept at nicking some of the talent factory from rivals Man City - and it doesn't look like stopping any time soon. Jamie Gittens would be the EIGHTH high-profile name to move to Stamford Bridge from The Etihad, sometimes via a couple of other clubs in between - not including Jadon Sancho who spent last season at Stamford Bridge on loan. Enzo Maresca Chelsea's current head coach was once part of Pep Guardiola's backroom staff at City — and is such of devotee of his former boss he's known as Diet Pep. Maresca, 45, - who also spent a season as Leicester manager - worked as manager of City's Under-23 team. Joe Shields Chelsea's Co-Director of Recruitment and Talent, who was poached from Southampton, where he spent just two months after leaving Man City in 2022. Glenn van der Kraan Van der Kraan was at City before joining as Chelsea's academy technical director last October. He was head of coaching at City's academy Cole Palmer The 23-year-old England star made the switch from Man City to Chelsea in 2023 for £40million, potentially rising to £42.5m. Palmer, pictured here with Lavia at Man City in 2021, has become the star man at Chelsea with 37 goals in 68 games for the club. Romeo Lavia The Belgium international midfielder, 21, joined Chelsea from Southampton for £53m in 2023. Before that he spent two years at Man City, making one appearance for the first team. Tosin Adarabioyo The 6ft5in centre back was at Man City's academy for four seasons, and made his debut for the first team aged 19. Now 27, he spent four years at Fulham before moving to Chelsea on a free transfer last summer. Liam Delap The former City academy star moved to Ipswich for £20m a year ago, before moving to Chelsea for £30m in June. 5 Advertisement 5 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Thursday's briefing: Elliott fires England U21s to final as Page joins Liverpool
Harvey Elliott was the hero for England Under-21s as he fired them into the final of the European Championships, but it came at a cost for the Liverpool midfielder. Arsenal are reportedly closing in on a deal for Brentford's Christian Norgaard, while Liverpool have a new U21s boss. Elliott's brace sets up Euros final against Germany "What a goal that is' 👀 How the #YoungLions reacted to Harvey Elliott's second of the game 🤝 — England (@England) June 25, 2025 England will face Germany in Saturday's final of the Under-21 European Championships after Elliott scored twice in a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands, bagging an 86th-minute winner after Noah Ohio cancelled out his opening goal. But Elliott admitted he was not sure if he will be fit to play in the final after hurting his knee when celebrating the first of his two goals in Bratislava, even if he did play through the pain to finish the match. 'I don't know what I've done to my knee, but it's bloody hurting,' Elliott told Channel 4. 'So hopefully it's nothing too silly. It's a silly decision from me, to be honest, but it's just one of them, live in the moment.' Gunners target Norgaard Arsenal appear close to signing Christian Norgaard after reportedly agreeing a deal with Brentford for their captain. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is seeking experience for his midfield with Thomas Partey's contract expiring next week after Jorginho already left the club. It has been reported that Arsenal will pay an initial £10million for Norgaard, with a possible further £5million in add-ons. Liverpool turn to Page Former Wales boss Rob Page has a new job after being named head coach of Liverpool Under-21s. The 50-year-old has been out of work since leaving his post with Wales last June, but the man who led them to the last 16 at Euro 2020 and qualification for the 2022 World Cup has been named as successor to Barry Lewtas. Liverpool academy director Alex Inglethorpe said: 'Rob brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience to a key role as young players look to bridge that gap from academy prospect to first-team footballer.' Dortmund advance as group winners 🆙 next: Round of 16. 👏 — Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) June 25, 2025 Borussia Dortmund secured their place in the last 16 of the Club World Cup as Group F winners as they edged out Ulsan HD 1-0 in Cincinnati. Daniel Svensson got the only goal in the 36th minute, firing in a low shot after Jobe Bellingham laid the ball off inside the penalty area. And that was enough for Dortmund to move top of their group as Fluminense were held to a goalless draw by Mamelodi Sundowns, nevertheless advancing as the second-placed team. What's on today? Manchester City face Juventus in Orlando with top spot in Group G – and the chance of avoid the winners of Real Madrid's group – on the line. EFL fans will have their alarms set for midday when the fixtures for the 2025-26 season will be released.
