Dragons back Jason Tovey adds experience to Wales U20

Wales Under-20 head coach Phil Davies has named a 27-man squad for the forthcoming Six Nations Championship.

The squad includes four players with professional regional experience.

Utility back Jason Tovey, fellow Dragon prop Aaron Coundley, plus Ospreys backs Ashley Beck and Kristian Phillips all have senior experience.

Davies has named a list of 10 reserve players who could be called in as a result of injuries or lack of form, plus a further nine stand-by players.

All 46 players will continue to be assessed throughout the season and all will have a chance to make Wales' squad for this season's IRB Junior World Championship, which takes place in Japan in June.

We have talked about being ambitious and making sure we compete with intensity and efficiency Wales U20 head coach Phil Davies

These include a number of players who have suffered long-term injuries this season including Justin Tipuric, another member of last year's Under-20 squad, who has made the reserve list having recovered from a back injury.

"Age group rugby is all about developing players so that they fully understand what international rugby is all about," Davies said.

"Leigh Halfpenny has already made the step up into professional regional and international rugby from last year's Under-20 squad and Dan Biggar, Jason Tovey and Jonathan Davies are all now playing regularly for their professional regions.

"Having said that, we have talked about being ambitious and making sure we compete with intensity and efficiency in every game and tournament we enter into.

"Every match is there to be won and that is what we will try to achieve, starting with Scotland at McDiarmid Park, Perth, on February 6th."

Wales Under-20 Six Nations squad:

Backs: James Loxton (Blues academy /Glamorgan Wanderers), Dai Langdon (Dragons academy / Ebbw Vale), Kristian Phillips (Ospreys / Neath), Ryan Healy (Glamorgan Wanderers), Ashley Beck (Ospreys/Aberavon), Nick Reynolds (Llanelli), Adam Hughes (Dragons academy / Bedwas), Matthew Pewtner (Dragons academy / Cross Keys), Rhys Downes (Blues academy / Pontypridd), Gareth Davies (Scarlets academy / Llanelli), James Leadbeater (Cross Keys), Jason Tovey (Dragons), Matthew Jarvis (Ospreys academy / Neath).

Forwards: Aaron Coundley (Dragons academy/ Ebbw Vale), Scott Andrews (Blues academy/ Glamorgan Wanderers), Dan Watchurst (Dragons academy / Bedwas), Simon Gardener (Scarlets Academy / Llanelli), Rhys Williams (Blues academy / Pontypridd), Craig Attwell (Dragons academy / Newbridge), James King (Ospreys academy/ Aberavon), Ashley Sweet (Dragons academy/ Cross Keys), Sam Paylor (Pontypool), Dan Partridge (Beddau), Jake Thomas (Cardiff), Josh Navidi (Blues academy Glamorgan Wanderers), Rory Pitman (Ospreys academy/Bridgend), James Thomas (Dragons academy /Ebbw Vale).

Reserve players:

Backs: Jamie Murphy (Bridgend), Luke Plummer (Dragons academy, Bedwas), Daniel Newton (Llanelli), Tavis Knoyle (Neath), Scott Williams (Scarlets academy / Llanelli). Forwards: Owen Evans (Llandovery / Cardigan), Craig Fillier (Ebbw Vale), Lee Bray (Newbridge), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys academy/ Aberavon), Rhys Ruddock (Millfield / Ospreys).

Stand-by players:

Backs: Ryan Bayliss (Ospreys academy/ Tonmawr), Daniel Etteridge (Llandovery), Lloyd Williams (Blues academy, Wanderers), Dean Gunter (Abercynon). Forwards: Stewart Maguire (Dragons academy/ Pontypool), Ricky Guest (Scarlets academy/ Llanelli), Rhys Jenkins (Dragons academy/ Ebbw Vale), Kristian Dacey (Pontypridd), Morgan Allen (Bedwas).

Wales Under-20 fixtures:

Leeds Select XV v Wales Select XV; Wed 14 Jan, 7pm Headingly Stadium.

Under-20 Six Nations:
Scotland v Wales; Friday 6 February, Perth, kick-off tbc
Wales v England; Friday 13 February, Venue tbc, 7.10pm
France v Wales; Saturday 28 February, Strasbourg, kick-off tbc
Italy v Wales; Friday 13 March, Biell, kick-off tbc
Wales v Ireland; Friday 20 March, Parc y Scarlets, 7.10pm

Emerging Wales v Japan; Friday 28 March, venue and kick-off tbc

Wales v Japan; Wednesday 1 April, venue and kick-off tbc

Wales v Japan; Sunday 5 April, venue and kick-off tbc

IRB Junior World Championship; Japan, June 5-21

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