Seven Dragons have been selected by Wales Under-20s head coach Richard Whiffin to take on Italy in their final warm-up match ahead of the Under-20 World Cup this summer.
Flanker and new signing Harry Beddall leads the side which also includes wing Ioan Duggan, half backs Harri Ford and Logan Franklin along with and Number Eight Evan Minto in the starting XV.
On the bench are Ryan Jones and Nick Thomas who is looking to make his return from injury on Friday at the Cardiff Arms Park (kick-off 4:30pm).
Additionally, hooker Evan Wood is on the bench with the Cardiff Met student having impressed for Pontypool RFC in the SRC this season.
Ford, Duggan and Minto, who captained the side last weekend, are the only three players in the whole XV who start again following the loss against England.
“We wanted to use the England game as an opportunity for some guys that hadn’t had much game time to experience top end match action and this Italy game was earmarked as final preparation for the World Cup, so it was almost a case of getting a few boys some minutes before we get on the plane,” explained Whiffin.
“Italy will be a very tough team, you only have to go back to the game in the Six Nations and how tough it was out there.
“We snuck over the line thanks to a last minute shot at goal by them. It was a tough battle, they have a very strong pack, possess a strong kicking game and have some really quick outside backs so they will challenge us right across the field.
“We want boys feeling that pressure as we know what it is going to be like out at the World Cup so there are shirts up for grabs, the boys know that and we’ll hopefully see the best out of them on the back of it.”
Wales will face Argentina, France and Spain in the group stages of the World Cup in Italy with the first game against the Pumas on June 29.
Wales U20 v Italy U20, Friday 13 June, Cardiff Arms Park, 4.30pm
Wales: Jack Woods (Bath Rugby); Ioan Duggan (Dragons), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby), Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears); Harri Ford (Dragons), Logan Franklin (Dragons); Ioan Emanuel (Bath Rugby), Harry Thomas (Scarlets), Sam Scott (Bristol Bears), Dan Gemine (Ospreys), Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs), Deian Gwynne (Gloucester), Harry Beddall (Dragons - Capt), Evan Minto (Dragons).
Replacements Evan Wood (Pontypool/Cardiff Met), Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Tom Cottle (Cardiff Rugby), Nick Thomas (Dragons), Ryan Jones (Dragons), Caio James (Gloucester), Keanu Evans (Scarlets), Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby), Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby), Elis Price (Scarlets), Lewis Edwards (Ospreys), Sion Jones (Scarlets), Carwyn Legatt-Jones (Scarlets).
Tickets available on the gate priced £5 adults with free entry for under 16s
