Five Dragons get Wales call for World Rugby U20 Championship
Head coach Richard Whiffin has confirmed his squad of 30 players for the tournament in Italy that pits the Welsh youngsters against Argentina, France and Spain in the group stages.
Flanker Harry Beddall, who is moving to Rodney Parade from Leicester this summer, is captain and is joined by four players who made their senior Dragons debuts last season – fly-half Harri Ford, tighthead Owain James, lock Nick Thomas and back row forward Evan Minto.
Thomas proved his fitness with a successful return against Italy in last Friday's friendly win at Cardiff Arms Park after being out since an ankle injury suffered in the Six Nations opener against France.
However, Dragons winger Harry Rees-Weldon, who suffered a hamstring injury in training, has been joined on the sidelines by Franklin, who looked set to be a key figure in the tournament.
The scrum-half misses out after suffering a serious arm injury in the opening stages of the win against the Italians.
That leads to a call-up for Neath's Ellis Lewis, who is the only uncapped player in the squad.
There are five Dragons and also included are Pontypool hooker Evan Wood and Gwent outside backs Aidan Boschoff and Jack Woods, who play for Bristol and Bath respectively.
CAPTAIN: Dragons flanker Harry Beddall (centre) will lead Wales at the World Rugby U20 Championship but Logan Franklin (right) is injured (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
'I think it is a very balanced squad with some quality experience returning from last year and some added emphasis from guys who have performed well during the Six Nations,' said Whiffin.
'We've got a pack that we feel can really deliver at the World Cup and look to be dominant at both the scrum and line-out and as a team we fully understand how we want to play.
'We've got some fantastic work rate in our outside backs that will not only get the ball back for us but be a real threat when we've got the ball.'
Wales will need to show the fighting spirit that earned them Six Nations upsets against Ireland and England after they had edged out Italy in the second round of the championship.
'The pleasing thing is the boys are confident and they know they can go out there and compete with so-called top teams in the competition and we're not afraid,' said Whiffin.
'We're going out there saying we want to get into that top semi-final bracket and once you get into that bracket you never know what's going to happen.
'It means we'll need to play well and back those performances up but the boys are confident and we were close last year but didn't get over the line.
'I think we've proved in the Six nations we can knock over some of those tighter games so hopefully we can see that in the World Cup.'
Wales, who finished eighth last year, start against Argentina on Sunday, June 29 (kick-off 7.30pm) then face second seeds France on Friday, July 4 (kick-off 2.30pm) and finish the group stages against the Spanish on Wednesday, July 9 (kick-off 2.30pm).
That is followed by two more fixtures, either to play for the trophy or placings with the 12th-placed side dropping down to next year's World Rugby U20 Trophy.
Wales U20 squad
Forwards (17): Ioan Emanuel (Bath), Louie Trevett (Bristol), Harry Thomas (Scarlets), Saul Hurley (Aberavon), Evan Wood (Pontypool), Sam Scott (Bristol), Owain James (Dragons), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs), Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol), Nick Thomas (Dragons), Tom Cottle (Cardiff), Dan Gemine (Ospreys), Deian Gwynne (Gloucester), Harry Beddall (Dragons – captain), Caio James (Gloucester), Evan Minto (Dragons).
Backs (13): Sion Davies (Cardiff), Ellis Lewis (Neath), Harri Wilde (Cardiff), Harri Ford (Dragons), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff), Elis Price (Scarlets), Elijah Evans (Cardiff), Osian Roberts (Sale), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff), Aidan Boshoff (Bristol), Lewis Edwards (Ospreys), Jack Woods (Bath), Tom Bowen (Cardiff).
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