Head coach Richard Whiffin has confirmed his Wales U20 Men’s matchday squad to face France in their opening fixture of the 2025 U20 Six Nations.
Dan Gemine of the Ospreys takes his place on the bench.
Wales head to northwest France to tackle the home side on Saturday at Stade de la Rabine in Vannes in the opening round of the championship. (KO 8.10pm, S4C)
It will be the first time Wales have played at the ground since 2019 where a side containing seven of Warren Gatland’s current senior side, suffered defeat.
There are four uncapped players in the starting XV with Dragons halfback Logan Franklin the only back making his debut behind the scrum.
Up front Bristol Bears second row Kenzie Jenkins joins back row partners Deian Gwynne (Gloucester) and Evan Minto (Dragons) as the new caps in the engine room.
“It was a tough team to pick as a lot of guys have put their hands up over the past couple of weeks,” admitted Whiffin.
“Where we’ve come to is a team full of pace, speed and power and ultimately in skill and that is how we want to attack the game on Saturday.
“We’ve got boys with experience who know how we want to play and can help the younger boys in terms of our game model. The younger guys come in with a fresh view and new ideas and have an opportunity to push our game forward.”
Leicester Tigers flanker Harry Beddall will lead the side from the side of the scrum and Whiffin is hoping his actions set the tone for the group.
“Harry is someone who has high emotional intelligence and understands the game and is a good barometer of the group. On game day he is someone who leads by example,” he said.
France will begin the game as pre-match favourites in front of a partisan crowd but Whiffin said his side are aiming to go into the game and express themselves.
“It’s important defensively we get off the line and take their space away and bring our jackal game into it and from an attack point of view, being able to put our speed and pace into the game and being smart around our kicking game will be vital,” he said.
Wales U20s v France U20s, Sat 1st Feb, Stade de la Rabine, 8.10pm
15 Scot Delnevo (Aberavon/Aberafan)
14 Harry Rees-Weldon (Dragons/Dreigiau)
13 Elijah Evans (Cardiff Rugby/Caerdydd)
12 Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby/Caerdydd)
11 Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears/ Bryste)
10 Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby/Caerdydd)
9 Logan Franklin (Dragons/Dreigiau);
1 Ioan Emanuel (Bath Rugby/Caerfaddon)
2 Harry Thomas (Scarlets)
3 Sam Scott (Bristol Bears/ Bryste)
4 Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears/Bryste)
5 Nick Thomas (Dragons/Dreigiau)
6 Deian Gwynne (Gloucester/Caerloyw)
7 Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers/ Caerlŷr) Capt
8 Evan Minto (Dragons/Dreigiau)
Replacements
16 Saul Hurley (Aberavon/Aberafan)
17 Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears/Bryste)
18 Jac Pritchard (Scarlets)
19 Tom Cottle (RGC)
20 Dan Gemine (Ospreys/Gweilch)
21 Carwyn Edwards (Cardiff Met/Met Caerdydd)
22 Harri Ford (Dragons/Dreigiau)
23 Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby/Caerdydd)
Tîm o Dan 20 Cymru i wynebu Ffrainc o Dan 20
Mae’r Prif Hyfforddwr, Richard Whiffin wedi cadarnhau ei garfan ar gyfer eu gêm agoriadol ym Mhencampwriaeth o dan 20 y Chwe Gwlad 2025 yn erbyn Ffrainc.
Bydd y Cymry yn teithio i Vannes i herio’r Ffrancod yn y Stade de la Rabine a bydd y gêm yn fyw ar S4C nos Sadwrn am 8.10pm.
Dyma fydd y tro cyntaf i dîm o dan 20 Cymru chwarae yn y stadiwm ers 2019. Fe chwaraeodd saith aelod o garfan bresennol Warren Gatland yn y golled honno chwe blynedd yn ôl. Un o’r rheiny oedd Joe Roberts, groesodd am gais dros y Cymry.
Mae Richard Whiffin wedi dewis pedwar cap newydd yn y pymtheg cychwynol, gan gynnwys mewnwr y Dreigiau Logan Franklin.
Clo Bryste Kenzie Jenkins a’r ddeuawd yn y rheng ôl - Deian Gwynne (Caerloyw) ac Evan Minto (Dreigiau) yw’r tri blaenwr fydd yn cynrychioli eu gwlad ar y lefel yma am y tro cyntaf.
Dywedodd Richard Whiffin: “Roedd dewis y tîm yn anodd iawn gan bod cymaint o chwaraewyr wedi ymarfer yn wych dros yr wythnosau diwethaf.
“Rwyf wedi dewis tîm cyflym, pwerus a dawnus a dyna fydd ein hathroniaeth ar gyfer y gêm nos Sadwrn.
“Mae gennym dipyn o brofiad yn y tîm hefyd a gyda syniadau newydd y bechgyn newydd, ‘rwy’n hyderus bod gennym gyfuniad da i gryfhau ymhellach fel carfan.”
Harry Beddall fydd yn arwain y tîm unwaith eto ac mae Richard Whiffin yn gobeithio y bydd blaenasgellwr Caerlŷr yn gosod safonau a sylfeini cadarn i weddill y garfan.
Ychwanegodd Whiffin: “Mae Harry’n chwaraewr rygbi deallus. Mae’n darllen y gêm yn gampus ac mae’n esiampl arbennig i weddill y bois – oddi ar y cae ond yn enwedig felly ar y maes chwarae.”
Efallai mai Ffrainc fydd y ffefrynnau ar gyfer yr ornest yn Vannes ond mae Richard Whiffin yn hyderus y gall ei garfan arddangos eu doniau nos Sadwrn:
“Yn amlwg bydd hi’n bwysig bod ein hamddiffyn yn drefnus – yn enwedig yn ardal y dacl. ‘Ry’n ni eisiau chwarae gêm gyflym ac ymosodol ond mae’n rhaid i ni chwarae’n ddeallus a gwneud yn siwr ein bod yn cicio’n gywir ar yr adegau iawn hefyd.”
