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Grady and Beetham start for Wales under-20 in French test

19th February 2020


Cardiff Blues youngsters Mason Grady and Jacob Beetham are amongst the seven changes made for Wales under-20's Six Nations clash against France in Colwyn Bay on Friday.

The Cardiff Blues academy duo will make their first starts of the campaign as Gareth Williams' side seek their first win, having registered defeats against Italy and Ireland in the opening rounds.

The two players have featured for Cardiff Blues A earlier this season, with Grady impressing for Pontypridd in the Indigo Group Premiership while still being eligible for under-18 rugby.

Three Cardiff Blues players line-up in the pack, with props Theo Bevacqua and Ben Warren and back row Ioan R Davies retaining their spots in the starting XV from the defeat to Ireland. Gwilym Bradley, who recently joined Wales' Capital Region, is also named amongst the replacements.

Aberavon's Frankie Jones joins Beetham and Grady in a new-look back three, as Bradley Roderick replaces Osian Knott in the centre.

Cardiff Met scrum half Ellis Bevan is handed the number nine jersey, as Dom Booth and James Fender are drafted into the pack and Jac Morgan continues his role as captain.

Wales have lost to Italy and Ireland in their opening two games, but Williams believes his side have learned important lessons along the way, particularly as his young side outscored the defending Grand Slam champions in the second half in horrendous conditions in Cork last week.

“You could see in the second half against Ireland where we put that element of pressure rugby into place we got good value out of it – if we could have done that on a few more occasions in the first half that game would have gone down to the wire,” said Williams.

“France have been flag bearers over the last few years in this age group – we look forward to bringing them to Colwyn Bay to face the challenge of going up against them.

“We are aware of what’s coming but I hope the disappointment from the Ireland game will drive our boys on as that game could have been much closer if we hadn’t committed errors in the first half. Ultimately we just want to keep putting ourselves into those positions.”

Wales U20 v France U20, Stadiwm Zip World, Friday 21 February, KO 7.35pm (Live BBC TWO Wales)
15 Jacob Beetham (Cardiff Blues)
14 Frankie Jones (Aberavon)
13 Bradley Roderick (Ospreys)
12 Aneurin Owen (Dragons)
11 Mason Grady (Cardiff Blues)
10 Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers)
9 Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Met);
1 Theo Bevacqua (Cardiff Blues)
2 Dom Booth (Scarlets)
3 Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues)
4 James Fender (Ospreys)
5 Ben Carter (Dragons)
6 Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues)
7 Jac Morgan (Scarlets – CAPT)
8 Morgan Strong (Ospreys)

Replacements
16 Will Griffiths (Dragons)
17 Callum Williams (Scarlets)
8 Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby)
19 Rhys Thomas (Ospreys)
20 Gwilym Bradley (Cardiff Blues)
21 Dafydd Buckland (Dragons)
22 Joe Hawkins (Ospreys)
23 Josh Thomas (Ospreys)

Tickets available from Venue Cymru until Midday on Friday, then afterwards tickets can purchased from Colwyn Leisure Centre.

Ticket Prices

Terrace Standing: £10 adults / £5 children
Reserved Seating: £15 adults / £10 children