Wales name senior giant Tshiunza and big 17-year-old talent in new-look U20s squad

Ospreys centre Joe Hawkins has been named Wales’ captain for the U20 Summer Series being staged in Treviso and Verona between June 24 and July 12.

The powerful Swansea-born player leads a 30-man squad that’s been boosted by the return to the fold of hard-running Cardiff three-quarter Mason Grady and Exeter Chiefs locks Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza after the trio missed the 2022 Six Nations.

Highly-rated Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera product Morgan Morse, who is still only 17, also features in the line-up, along with five uncapped players — Scarlets back-five forward Caleb Salmon, Cardiff back-rower Mackenzie Martin, Aberavon flanker Ben Williams, Ospreys scrum-half Rhodri Lewis and Dragons No. 9 Che Hope.

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Hawkins is named as skipper as injury rules out Alex Mann, with the strong-running 6ft 2in, 15st 5lb midfield man having already impressed Wales U20 coach Byron Hayward.

“Joe had led the side in the Six Nations when Alex was unavailable due to suspension,” said Hayward. “He’s been here from day one. Him and Alex are very close and are similar in terms of people in how they drive standards on and off the field.

“I would put Joe in exactly the same category as Alex – a leader. He is going to be a top professional and a future captain for one of the regions.” You can read more about Hawkins here.

That said, Wales are not downplaying the blow of being without back-rower Mann. “Alex is a massive loss for us,” admitted Hayward. “He is definitely a leader on the field and off the field and players have so much respect for him as do the management. It’s just one of those things that happen in rugby. We just have to put it behind us and move on and move