Dragons pair Evan Minto and George Tuckley both start for Wales U20 in their opening clash of this year’s World Rugby Junior World Championship against hosts Georgia in Tiblisi.
Minto starts at number eight, while George Tuckley is at loosehead prop in Richard Whiffin’s side for Saturday’s opening game of the championship at Avchala Stadium.
The side includes 10 players in the starting XV who featured in last year’s tournament including Minto.
Cardiff Rugby centre Steffan Emanuel will co-captain the Wales side alongside Gloucester Rugby flanker Deian Gwynne.
Scarlets lock Will Evans will make his Wales debut alongside Tom Cottle in a new-look combination at second row while Ospreys flanker Sam Morgan and Bristol Bears scrum half Cai Gealy are set to make their international bows from the bench.
“It’s going to be a great occasion taking on Georgia in their home patch in front of their hostile crowd,” said Whiffin.
“We’ve got to put in place a game plan to quieten them down and we know it is going to be a big physical challenge against what is a formidable pack however we feel we have got plenty of weapons that can counter-act that.
“We’ve got three quick games in our pool and the first game can really set you up nicely considering we have got games five days after each other but all eyes are on Georgia - we know it is going to be a very tough game.
"They are well coached and play a lot of games and enter the competition having just beaten the junior All Blacks so they will be battle hardened for us."
The two sides have only met once previously in the junior World Championship, with Wales defeating Georgia 40-21 in Paarl (South Africa) in 2023.
Included in that side were Morgan Morse, Dan Edwards, Louie Hennessey and Mackenzie Martin who all went on to claim senior international honours.
Wales U20s will face Uruguay on Thursday the 2nd of July before a clash against reigning champions South Africa on Tuesday the 7th of July. Wales U20 v Georgia,
Sat 27th June, Avchala Stadium 15:00
15 Lewis Edwards (Ospreys); 14 Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby), 13 Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), 12 Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby) Co-capt., 11 Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby); 10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), 9 Siôn Davies (Cardiff Rugby); 1 George Tuckley (Dragons RFC), 2 Tom Howe (Cardiff Rugby), 3 Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), 4 Will Evans (Scarlets), 5 Tom Cottle (Cardiff Rugby), 6 Deian Gwynne (Gloucester Rugby) Co-capt., 7 Caio James (Gloucester), 8 Evan Minto (Dragons RFC).
Replacements: 16 Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby), 17 Dylan James (Ospreys), 18 Yestyn Cook (Scarlets), 19 Osian Williams (Bristol Bears), 20 Sam Morgan (Ospreys), 21 Cai Gealy (Bristol Bears), 22 Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby), 23 Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met).
