Wales Under 20s kick of their season with a clash against arch rivals England next Tuesday at Surrey Sports Park (KO 3pm).
The current squad only have to look at the current Welsh senior outfit to realise they have a chance of making the World Cup squad if they can put some solid performances behind them.
Fly half Elinor Snowsill made the step up from last year’s Under 20s squad to senior status this season with last year’s age grade skipper joined in this season’s Six Nations squad by Ceri Redman and Becky Newton while Carys John, Heledd Stephens and Lisa Newton were promoted into the senior squad.
In particular Sioned Harries and Charlie Murray will be hoping to stake a claim after the duo spent time training with the Welsh senior squad recently.
Second row Jo Clarke, centre Jess Smith and winger Sian Perry all make their debuts against England while Natalie Stone, Chloe Howells, Jess Kavanagh and Kayleigh Balchin are all new caps starting from the bench.
A Wales U18’s Talent Development Group will tackle England U18’s Talent Development Group in the curtain raiser (KO 1pm).
The Welsh team has been selected from the U18’s regional programme which has been running this season. Regions nominated players to attend trials where the ‘best of the best’ were selected to play in this one off fixture.
It’s hoped some of these players will be invited to be involved in a ‘potential group’ with some of the U20’s while some may be invited to also play in the Senior Regional programme.
WRU Women’s Performance Manager Sophie Bennett said: “With several players having already progressed from the Under 20s to the full senior squad, it proves to the players that there is a pathway to full international honours.
“Hopefully some players will put their hands up just like some of their predecessors who have made the jump successfully.”
Wales Under 20s v England
Surrey Sports Park, Tuesday 6th April, KO 3pm
15 Kerin Lake Neath Athletic
14 Sian Perry Altrincham Kersal
13 Adi Taviner (CAPT) Neath Athletic
12 Jess Smith Neath Athletic
11 Charlotte Murray Neath Athletic
10 Bethan Preece Neath Athletic
9 Yasmin Leung UWIC
1 Alex Stokes Neath Athletic
2 Amy Lawrence Neath Athletic
3 Lowri Harris UWIC
4 Jo Clarke UWIC
5 Shona Powell-Hughes Neath Athletic
6 Sian Williams RAF
8 Sioned Harris UWIC
7 Kathryn Joseph Neath Athletic
Substitutes
16 Natalie Stone Pontyclun
17 Sophie Mangano Kidwelly
18 Chloe Howells Whitland
19 Vicky Owens UWIC
20 Laura Marsh Woodbridge
21 Rhianydd Morgan Neath Athletic
22 Jess Kavanagh Dolgellau
