Tight-knit Wales U20s look to impress on and off field

Wales Under-20s are confident that staying tight in Georgia can help them upset the odds in the Junior World Championship and avoid a repeat of last year's off-field issues.

The Welsh youngsters get their campaign under way against the hosts in Tbilisi on Saturday (15:00 BST) in a group that also features Uruguay and champions South Africa.

Wales are aiming to improve on last year's competition when they finished eighth and some members of the squad were also accused of causing damage at the team's hotel in Rovigo.

"Circumstances went against us," said head coach Richard Whiffin. "We struggled with the team environment, and the hotel wasn't conducive to the boys spending time with each other.

"We weren't on the right side of results and that heightened the lack of connections, so that is something we have focused on.

"Me and (team manager) Andy Lloyd did a good recce of the hotel and know there are spaces that the boys can enjoy themselves in and stay tight, which I think will be seen throughout the tournament.

"The off-field things were blown out of all proportion but a few of the boys did some things that they regret and it wasn't an indication of what the majority did.

"They have learnt from the experience and we have certainly spoken about the standards required of an international rugby player for Wales. The expectations for off the pitch as well as on it have been made clear."

Wales finished fourth in the Six Nations with a solitary win against Scotland, but were agonisingly close to beating England and pushed Grand Slam winners France all the way.

Whiffin is confident he has the talent in his team but wins are needed if they are to set up what would effectively be a quarter-final against South Africa.

With the tournament expanded to 16 teams, only the pool winners progress to the semi-finals and Wales have a tough group.

First up is an encounter with the hosts, who are buoyed by a 22-19 warm-up win against New Zealand on Monday.

"We have to back ourselves in the first two games to give ourselves a 'knockout' game against South Africa," said Whiffin.

"We are not disrespecting Uruguay or Georgia, because we know they are going to be incredibly tough, but we want to put ourselves into a game where there is real jeopardy.

"South Africa have some very talented players who will look to light up the tournament, but it is great for our boys to challenge themselves against the best."

Georgia's friendly success against the Baby Blacks will certainly have focused minds, with powerful Toulon number eight Mikheil Shioshvili one of the tournament's brightest prospects.

"We are playing the tournament hosts in the first game and are expecting a hostile crowd, but the boys are excited by that," said Whiffin.

"Georgia will be route one and will try to get dominance up front and in the collision area.

"We need to box smart and I believe we have the X-factor in our back line that will hurt anybody in the competition.

"We have spoken about improving on the Six Nations and winning in a red jersey, because we had good performances without getting the results. The first opportunity to do that is against Georgia."

Ten of Wales' starting line-up featured in the 2025 tournament, including several key players who got senior experience this season.

Deian Gwynne featured for Gloucester in the Prem and Cardiff's Tom Bowen and Steffan Emanuel, Scarlets' Carwyn Leggatt-Jones and Dragons' Evan Minto played in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Scarlets lock Will Evans will make his debut as a starter while Ospreys flanker Sam Morgan and Bristol scrum-half Cai Gealy are set for first outings off the bench.

Wales Under-20s: Lewis Edwards (Ospreys); Rhys Cummings (Cardiff), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff, co-capt), Tom Bowen (Cardiff); Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), Sion Davies (Cardiff); George Tuckley (Dragons), Tom Howe (Cardiff), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Will Evans (Scarlets), Tom Cottle (Cardiff), Deian Gwynne (Gloucester, co-capt), Caio James (Gloucester), Evan Minto (Dragons).

Replacements: Oscar Thomas (Bath), Dylan James (Ospreys), Yestyn Cook (Scarlets), Osian Williams (Bristol), Sam Morgan (Ospreys), Cai Gealy (Bristol), Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff), Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met).