Thomas has been handed the honour of captaining the Wales U20 side after being drafted in for round two against the invitation team. Young has also been called-up to the front row for the Academies XV after missing out on the 42-21 defeat at the Arms Park last week.
Young picked up six caps in 2022-23, but missed out on a second season due to a serious foot injury. Thomas captained Wales at U18 level and currently has 10 caps at U20.
For Thomas it will be a game on home soil, as he plays for Llandovery in Super Rygbi Cymru and was a member of the squad that completed the league and cup double in the Indigo Premiership last season.
“They love their rugby in Llandovery and I’m hoping there will be a big crowd coming out to watch the game. I’m excited to get going,” said Thomas.
“I’ve captained Coleg Sir Gar and Scarlets U18 in the past, but it will be a real honour to lead the U20 side at Church Bank. I like to lead by example.
“It is going to be hard physically against an older side, but we’ve spent some good time together and should be more cohesive. These games are perfect for teeing us up for the game in France in the opening.
“We need to be more clinical in the final third and get better at coping with their physicality at the breakdown.
“The result doesn’t matter too much, but we need a good performance to get us ready for France.”
Thomas already has bragging rights over Young after coming on in the Llandovery win over Carmarthen Quins earlier in the season in SRC, so if he can do it again he can walk into training at the Scarlets with a cheeky smirk on his face.
Wales U20 v Regional Academies XV – Llandovery, Friday 17 January (7.30pm)
Wales U20:Â Lewis Edwards (Ospreys); Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears); Osian Roberts (Sale Sharks), Elis Price (Scarlets), Ieuan Cornelius (Ospreys); Harri Ford (Dragons), Carwyn Edwards (Sale Sharks); Ioan Emanuel (Bath), Harry Thomas (Scarlets, captain), Owain James (Dragons), Nick Thomas (Dragons), Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears), Arthur Moore (Bath), Ryan Jones (Dragons), Evan Minto (Dragons)
Reps: Morgan Williams (Dragons), Lewis Jones (Carmarthen Quins), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Dylan Alford (Scarlets), Tom Cottle (RGC), Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers), Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby), Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), Iori Badham (Scarlets)
Regional Academies XV:Â Sam Potter (Dragons); Jac Davies (Scarlets), Iestyn Gwilliam (Carmarthen Quins), Gabe McDonald (Scarlets), Macauley Rowley (Bridgend); Josh Phillips (Swansea), Lucca Setaro (Scarlets); Freddie Chapman (Ospreys), Isaac Young (Scarlets), Joe Cowell (Cardiff Rugby, captain), Ben Roberts (Ospreys), Ilan Evans (RGC), Evan Rees (Cardiff Rugby), Charlie Probert (RGC), Owen Conquer (Dragons)
Reps: Tomoya Adachi (Dragons), Harry Olding (Bridgend), Paddy Nelson (RGC), Ethan Phillips (Cardiff), Kobi Rees (Ebbw Vale) Rhodri Lewis (Scarlets), Fraser Jones (Cardiff Rugby), Gabe Lacey (Bridgend), Cori Lewis-Jenkins (Ospreys), Kodi Stone (Cardiff Rugby)
