Wales just picked a 17-year-old schoolboy for the U20s Six Nations because he has so much potential

Gareth Walters remembers being startled the first time he spotted Morgan Morse on a rugby field.

The highly respected Ospreys pathway manager was viewing a Dewar Shield match when a fresh-faced forward appeared off the bench, a year younger than others in his team.

Walters recalls: “Watching the things that he was doing, I had to turn around and ask some students sitting behind me: ‘Who the hell is that kid?’

“They said: ‘That’s Morgan Morse. He’s actually a year young.’

“You only had to watch him for a few minutes to realise he had a lot to offer.”

Fast-forward to this week and the very same youngster has been propelled into the Wales U20s squad at the tender age of 17. In fact, he only celebrated his birthday a week earlier and is still at school.

But that he has a lot of potential is not in doubt.

When he played for Ospreys U18s against Cardiff U18s last week, the Dulais Valley Youth product stopped two tries with last-ditch defence, took the ball forward powerfully, stole opposition possession and tackled strongly. A club coach described him as a ‘special talent’ in a text to this writer the following morning.

That said, the No. 8 is still very young and there will be hurdles for him to overcome.

“There are always questions over any young talent,” said Walters.

“You wonder how much more is to come.

“But in Morgan’s case, I think the omens are really good.

“Not only is he diligent and committed in everything he does, he’s also a good kid in school and he lives the right lifestyle. When he comes in here every morning, he’s ready to hit the ground running.

“He’s had a really big block of physical work with Ospreys strength and conditioning head Alex Lawson and he’s come through that well.

“So we see him as a player who