Byron Hayward’s side travel to Italy for the U20 Six Nations Summer Series where they will face the hosts along with Scotland, and Georgia in Pool B before a play-off match to determine their final placing. Ospreys centre Hawkins was a standout player in a disappointing Six Nations campaign, and has been named captain following an injury to Alex Mann.
The 20-year-old is over the moon to lead his country, but wants them to be more ruthless in attack. “It is always an honour to captain your country especially from the start of the campaign,” he said.
“It is bittersweet losing Alex Mann who is a big mate of mine but it has given me a chance to take over the captaincy, and I’m looking forward to it. In a lot of the games during the Six Nations we played we were in contention but towards the end we really started to fall away.
“I think that’s down to us executing the opportunities we created because we created loads of chances in every game we played. Hopefully, with that extra little bit of experience and calmness we can finish off those opportunities and win those games.
“We want to move the ball and play fast. The weather and the pitches will definitely suit that so we want to impose the way we want to play onto the other teams.
“The weather will allow us to do that.” The squad has been boosted by the availability of senior Wales international Christ Tshiunza, Exeter Chiefs lock Dafydd Jenkins, and Cardiff centre Mason Grady.
Hawkins is confident this will significantly strengthen the squad, and is looking forward to linking up in midfield with Grady. “It’ll give us a stronger spine to the team, and provide us with more leaders which will hopefully allow us to have a successful tour,” said Hawkins.
“Having Christ and Dafydd back will be massive for our pack. We had a pretty young pack out there in the Six Nations.
“Christ has obviously already won a senior cap and will bring a massive amount of experience which they’ll definitely bring in, and that should feed out to the other players in the squad. I think the last time I played in the centre with him was for Wales under 18s.
“Circumstances have kept us apart over the last couple of years but I’m definitely looking forward to getting back out there with him.”
