Wales coach excited by new golden generation as seven special talents emerge

There are some exciting prospects in this Wales U20s squad

Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin believes a significant number of his current squad can follow in the footsteps of the celebrated 2008 crop by making the step up to the senior national side over the coming years.

The Wales U20s squad of 2008 included a golden generation of Welsh players, with the likes of Dan Biggar, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb, among others, who all graduated into the seniors over the same time period which culminated in unprecedented success.

At senior level Steve Tandy is desperately in need of an influx of fresh talent and Whiffin believes there are a number of players in this Wales U20s squad who will make their mark on the senior game over the next couple of seasons, while he also thinks a couple are dark horses to make the 2027 Rugby World Cup squad.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

“You look at your Steffan Emanuels, Deian Gwynne, Caio James and then the young boys in Carwyn (Leggatt-Jones) – there’s a crop of players who will develop through together,” he said.

“Hopefully they will infiltrate the national team at the same sort of time.

“You can see them having long careers in that red jersey.

“Even if you add in the last few years with your Sam Scotts and Ioan Emanuels, there’s a group of players over this last three years that I’ve been involved in with high potential that hopefully when they do graduate through to the seniors will show their quality.

“I think there are a couple who are performing at that level already in the senior professional game and if given a chance will grab it with both hands.”

One of the key missing ingredients at senior level is size and physicality, particularly up front.

Wales U20s may have fallen just short against England U20s and France U20s but their forwards were dominant for large periods of the game.

Second-rows Luke Evans and Osian Williams have been particularly impressive, as has hooker Tom Howe.

“Over the last two years we haven’t been physically beaten up,” said Whiffin.

“Yes, we’ve lost games for different aspects or a scrum has got on top but in terms of that physicality in the collision we are certainly fronting up.

“Now with some added size in our pack we’ve got an opportunity to really dominate in those areas.

“There are big, physical players in Wales. We don’t necessarily have as many as other nations but the ones we do have we cherish and put lots of resources into.

“We’ve got to work with them to come through.”

JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE Latest news, analysis and much more

Giant Exeter Chiefs lock Evans is a player Whiffin is particularly excited about.

“He’s gone into the leadership group this year,” he said.

“He’s matured, as you’d expect, just being another year older but also being around that professional environment at Exeter.

“He is someone who is very on top of his detail and will challenge other players around their role knowledge but in a supportive way. I’ve been massively impressed with how he’s helped Osian Williams.

“He’s been outstanding in the first couple of games but a lot of that is down to the security and connection he has with Luke who is going about his work really well but helping his players in and around him.”