Wales coach will 'stick my life' on little-known teen playing at next World Cup as U20s side revamped

Wales start their U20 Summer Series campaign against Scotland on Saturday (4pm) with coach Byron Hayward welcoming back two of the brightest prospects in British and Irish rugby in locks Christ Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins.

The duo have been touted as the potential second-row pairing for the Wales senior team at the 2027 World Cup.

The pair were off limits to Hayward for the entire junior Six Nations campaign, with injury ruling out Tshiunza, while Jenkins was needed for club duties with Exeter Chiefs.

: Thousands bid farewell to Phil Bennett amid emotional scenes in Llanelli

But both are back in the fold for the competition in Italy which sees Wales open against the Scots at Stadio Monigo in Treviso.

“It’s a massive boost for us to have the calibre of players coming back in to enhance the team,” said Hayward. “The one thing we lacked in the Six Nations was a physical presence, particularly in the forwards.

“If you look at the team selected for Scotland, two of the boys who played in the second row are now playing in their proper position in the back row.”

Those two boys would be blindside flanker Ryan Woodman and No. 8 Benji Williams, with both rated significant talents.

Indeed, so highly is Dragons youngster Woodman rated that Hayward went out of his way to predict a big future for him.

“I would stick my life on it, he will be playing for Wales in the next World Cup,” said Hayward, meaning the 2027 global tournament.

“His work rate is so high, and he proved that in the second row for us. I’m eager to see him get around the park and get his carrying going as I think he could be difficult for the opposition to handle.

“He was calling the lineouts in the Six Nations where our pack was quite light but he has come