U20 selection a 'tough process'

WALES Under-20s have named their team to face England in tonight's Six Nations opener at Franklin's Gardens.

- By GELN WILLIAMS

Head coach Richard Whiffin has selected a starting XV featuring nine players with previous U20 experience, while Tom Cottle and Evan Minto add further age-grade caps to a 6-2 split bench designed to cope with the physical test expected in Northampton.

Wales are looking to lay down an early marker in the 2026 championship, having denied England a Grand Slam when the sides last met at Cardiff Arms Park in 2025.

Whiffin admitted the selection had not been straightforward.

"It was a tough selection process; we spent a while as coaches deliberating the pros and cons in terms of what we have come up with," he said.