Wing Jimmy Norris is a true veteran of the international age grade rugby at the ripe old age of 19. He featured in the Wales U19 team that beat all of the Six Nations countries in 2006, before travelling to Dubai for the IRB U19 World Championships later that season. He was also a key member of last season’s U19 squad that reached the semi-finals of the same tournament in Belfast last April and is therefore won of the old boys of this side, in experience if not age.
Meanwhile, Jason Tovey and Ashley Sweet will make their first starts for Wales U20 tonight after playing in the Wales U18 squad last season. Both players are regular Principality Premiership performers, with fullback Tovey holding down a place in the Bedwas side and Sweet often running the line-out for Cross Keys.
Head Coach Patrick Horgan is more than happy the youngsters can slot seamlessly into the side at this level: “We will soon have to name a squad of 26 for June’s Junior World Championship so all the players in our Six Nations squad deserve a fair crack of the whip to prove they are capable of making the grade. Jason and Ashley are more than capable of stepping up to the mark in this Six Nations game. Despite their young age, they have proved in the Premiership that they are up to the challenge and it’s great for them to have this opportunity at home.”
Tovey, originally from Cross Keys, and Sweet, from Pontypool are unsurprisingly delighted with their inclusion in the starting fifteen.
“I’m over the moon,” said Sweet. “It’s great to get this chance – especially at home at Rodney Parade. Hopefully I’ll make my mark and stake a claim for more chances as the Junior World Championship approaches.”
“I’ve been involved for both the Six Nations matches to date,” added Tovey. “But it’s a different feeling altogether to be included in the starting line-up so I just want to get on with the game.”
