Wales Under 20 head coach Phil Davies has selected six Dragons Academy players for the development game against Japan at Aberavon tomorrow night (Wednesday, 7.10pm).
James Leadbeater from Cross Keys has also been selected in a squad which will see five uncapped players make their international debut.
Japan are set to host the second Junior World Championship in June and are currently half way through a four-match tour of Wales in preparation for that tournament. Davies too, will use this game to help build his squad for the Junior World Championship.
He said: "This will be a very useful exercise. It will help us to keep our momentum going after the Six Nations Championship, and gives some players a chance to work their way into contention for the Junior World Championship squad.
"All five of the uncapped players have trained with us at some point during the Six Nations Championship and this match, with injuries to a number of our Six Nations three quarters, gives them an opportunity to prove themselves at this level."
Japan have played Welsh Academicals and UWIC since arriving in Wales and will play a North Wales Under 20 XV at Swansea RFC on Saturday.
Wales Under 20 Development XV v Japan:
James Leadbeater (Cross Keys); Jamie Davies (Carmarthen Quins), Jason Harris (Carmarthen Quins), Ashley Beck (Ospreys academy / Aberavon), Nick Reynolds (Llanelli); Matthew Jarvis (Ospreys academy / Neath), Rhys Downes (Blues academy / Blues); Dan Watchurst (Dragons academy / Bedwas), Craig Attwell (Dragons academy / Newbridge), Simon Gardiner (Scarlets academy / Llanelli), Ashley Sweet (Dragons academy / Cross Keys), James King (Ospreys academy / Aberavon), Justin Tipuric (Capt, Ospreys academy / Aberavon), Rhys Jenkins (Dragons academy / Ebbw Vale), James Thomas (Dragons academy / Ebbw Vale).
Replacements: Rhys Williams (Blues academy / Pontypridd), Owen Evans (Llandovery), Josh Navidi (Blues academy / Glamorgan Wanderers), Dan Partridge (Beddau), Lloyd Williams (Blues academy / Glamorgan Wanderers), Dai Langdon (Dragons academy / Ebbw Vale), Daniel Newton (Scarlets academy).
James Leadbeater from Cross Keys has also been selected in a squad which will see five uncapped players make their international debut.
Japan are set to host the second Junior World Championship in June and are currently half way through a four-match tour of Wales in preparation for that tournament. Davies too, will use this game to help build his squad for the Junior World Championship.
He said: "This will be a very useful exercise. It will help us to keep our momentum going after the Six Nations Championship, and gives some players a chance to work their way into contention for the Junior World Championship squad.
"All five of the uncapped players have trained with us at some point during the Six Nations Championship and this match, with injuries to a number of our Six Nations three quarters, gives them an opportunity to prove themselves at this level."
Japan have played Welsh Academicals and UWIC since arriving in Wales and will play a North Wales Under 20 XV at Swansea RFC on Saturday.
Wales Under 20 Development XV v Japan:
James Leadbeater (Cross Keys); Jamie Davies (Carmarthen Quins), Jason Harris (Carmarthen Quins), Ashley Beck (Ospreys academy / Aberavon), Nick Reynolds (Llanelli); Matthew Jarvis (Ospreys academy / Neath), Rhys Downes (Blues academy / Blues); Dan Watchurst (Dragons academy / Bedwas), Craig Attwell (Dragons academy / Newbridge), Simon Gardiner (Scarlets academy / Llanelli), Ashley Sweet (Dragons academy / Cross Keys), James King (Ospreys academy / Aberavon), Justin Tipuric (Capt, Ospreys academy / Aberavon), Rhys Jenkins (Dragons academy / Ebbw Vale), James Thomas (Dragons academy / Ebbw Vale).
Replacements: Rhys Williams (Blues academy / Pontypridd), Owen Evans (Llandovery), Josh Navidi (Blues academy / Glamorgan Wanderers), Dan Partridge (Beddau), Lloyd Williams (Blues academy / Glamorgan Wanderers), Dai Langdon (Dragons academy / Ebbw Vale), Daniel Newton (Scarlets academy).
