Wales have named highly-rated Dragons back-rower Ryan Woodman as the new captain of the under-20s side for the Six Nations.
So well thought of is Woodman, coach Byron Hayward believes he is certain to be in the Wales senior side for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Woodman leads a 36-man squad that is packed with emerging talent but light on experience in the forwards following the promotion of the likes of Christ Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins to the senior scene.
Hayward said of his captaincy choice: “I sought the opinion of all our staff because I think it's important to make that process as thorough as possible because they see him in different respective areas like medical, S&C. They see what they are like in the gym, what are they like off the field and on the field and Ryan was the overwhelming candidate.
“He commands his place in the team number one but he's one of those Alex Mann characters who leads by example. He’s a very quiet boy but what he says is mature and sensible and people listen and they will follow him so he was the overriding candidate."
Woodman's rise comes as no surprise after his influential displays in the second row last year prompted Hayward to make a bold and eye-catching prediction.
“I would stick my life on it, he will be playing for Wales in the next World Cup,” said Hayward, referring to the 2027 global tournament.
“His work rate is so high, and he proved that in the second row for us. I’m eager to see him get around the park and get his carrying going as I think he could be difficult for the opposition to handle.
“He was calling the lineouts in the Six Nations where our pack was quite light but he has come back in six kilos heavier and his fitness levels are high scoring so I’m expecting big things from Ryan."
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Hayward believes he has selected a strong squad for the campaign which sees Wales host Ireland at Stadiwm CSM in Colwyn Bay next Friday, February 3, in the opening round of matches.
“It is the strongest squad we could have picked because of recruitment,” he said. “Our identification of this squad has been really thorough since last September and we're in a totally different place to where we were 12 months ago.
“I’ve watched virtually every game these boys have played from September this season either by footage or watching the games. We’ve also had workshops plus we had a match against Scotland pre-Christmas and then we had Poland and we’ve also had two hit-outs against Cardiff Met and Pontypool in the last couple of weeks so preparation-wise I think we're in a good place.
“We are inexperienced up front in the front five in terms of age and playing-wise at this level but we have experience in the back line and it’s always the same every year, it is one or the other."
Wales finished fifth in last year's tournament, losing four of the five matches they played.
Wales U20 Six Nations squad — forwards: Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Dragons), Freddie Chapman (Ospreys), Josh Morse (Scarlets), Sam Scarfe (Dragons), Lewis Morgan (Scarlets), Isaac Young (Scarlets), Ellis Fackrell (Ospreys), Will Couch (Scarlets), Tomas Pritchard (Scarlets), Liam Edwards (Ospreys), Jonny Green (Harlequins), Owain Evans (RGC), Ryan Woodman (Dragons – capt), Huw Davies (Sale), Caleb Salmon (Scarlets), Tom Caple (Dragons), Luca Giannini (Scarlets), Gwilym Evans (Cardiff Rugby), Morgan Morse (Ospreys), Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby)
Backs: Archie Hughes (Scarlets), Harri Williams (Scarlets), Che Hope (Dragons), Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Harrison James (Cardiff Rugby), Iwan Jenkins (Exeter), Harri Ackerman (Dragons), Bryn Bradley (Harlequins), Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby), Tom Florence (Ospreys), Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby), Harri Houston ((Ospreys), Oli Andrew (Dragons), Llien Morgan (Ospreys), Jac Davies (Scarlets), Kian Abraham (Scarlets)
