Latest news with #HarryBeddall
South Wales Argus
09-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Wales aim to avoid Spain upset in World Rugby U20 Champs
Richard Whiffin's side have been hit by comebacks from Argentina and France in the tournament in Italy. That means their semi-final hopes are gone but they still play for placings and will be keen to avoid the bottom bracket, which features a relegation play-off on final weekend. Hooker Wood starts against the Spanish while Dragons lock Nick Thomas and flanker Harry Beddall join him in the XV. Back row forward Evan Minto, prop Owain James and fly-half Harri Ford are on the bench for the clash in Verona (kick-off 2.30pm). Spain were superb against Argentina to give themselves a shot at an upset but were hit by a comeback to lose 33-30. Wales must aim to win with a bonus point and that should be enough to move into the 5th to 8th play-offs rather than 9th to 12th, with the bonus points from England versus Australia game potentially key to that (kick-off 5pm). Wales Under-20s: Lewis Edwards; Elijah Evans, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Elis Price, Aidan Boshoff; Harri Wilde, Ellis Lewis; Ioan Emanuel, Evan Wood, Jac Pritchard, Luke Evans, Nick Thomas, Deian Gwynne, Caio James, Harry Beddall (captain). Replacements: Jake Bowen, Owain James, Sam Scott, Dan Gemine, Evan Minto, Sion Davies, Harri Ford, Jack Woods.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales take belief into U20 World Champs
Wales captain Harry Beddall says his side will take a lot of belief going into the Under-20 World Championship off the back of their best Six Nations finish in eight beat Italy and Ireland before denying England a Grand Slam in a thrilling finale to finish third in the Whiffin's side now head out to Italy where they will kick-off their World Championship campaign against Argentina on 29 will then face France on 4 July before completing the Pool B stage against Spain on 9 July."Belief is something we drive in the camp, if we don't believe in ourselves we're not going to get the job done," said Beddall. "We take a lot of confidence from that Six Nations, we showed what we are capable of, but there was also some blips which we've still got to work on."We've taken a load of learnings from that first game against France, and the Six Nations in general, and we're looking to take them forward into the championship."Wales produced a heroic defensive shift to beat England 23-13 at Cardiff Arms Park in March, putting in 184 tackles and Beddall hopes they can show more of Wales' attack in this next campaign. "We want to be on the ball more, that's how you win games by scoring tries," said Beddall."The [Italian] heat is going to take a lot out of us, especially if we're defending for large periods of the game." Wales squad Forwards: Ioan Emanuel, Louie Trevett, Harry Thomas, Saul Hurley, Evan Wood, Sam Scott, Owain James, Jac Pritchard, Luke Evans, Kenzie Jenkins, Nick Thomas, Tom Cottle, Dan Gemine, Deian Gwynne, Harry Beddall (capt), Caio James, Evan Sion Davies, Ellis Lewis, Harri Wilde, Harri Ford, Steffan Emanuel, Elis Price, Elijah Evans, Osian Roberts, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Aidan Boshoff, Lewis Edwards, Jack Woods, Tom Bowen. Wales' Pool B fixtures Sunday, 29 JuneArgentina U20 v Wales U20, Payanini Center, Verona (19:30 BST)Friday, 4 JulyFrance U20 v Wales U20, Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo (14:30 BST)Wednesday, 9 JulyWales U20 v Spain U20, Payanini Center, Verona (14:30 BST).
South Wales Argus
17-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Five Dragons get Wales call for World Rugby U20 Championship
Head coach Richard Whiffin has confirmed his squad of 30 players for the tournament in Italy that pits the Welsh youngsters against Argentina, France and Spain in the group stages. Flanker Harry Beddall, who is moving to Rodney Parade from Leicester this summer, is captain and is joined by four players who made their senior Dragons debuts last season – fly-half Harri Ford, tighthead Owain James, lock Nick Thomas and back row forward Evan Minto. Thomas proved his fitness with a successful return against Italy in last Friday's friendly win at Cardiff Arms Park after being out since an ankle injury suffered in the Six Nations opener against France. However, Dragons winger Harry Rees-Weldon, who suffered a hamstring injury in training, has been joined on the sidelines by Franklin, who looked set to be a key figure in the tournament. The scrum-half misses out after suffering a serious arm injury in the opening stages of the win against the Italians. That leads to a call-up for Neath's Ellis Lewis, who is the only uncapped player in the squad. There are five Dragons and also included are Pontypool hooker Evan Wood and Gwent outside backs Aidan Boschoff and Jack Woods, who play for Bristol and Bath respectively. CAPTAIN: Dragons flanker Harry Beddall (centre) will lead Wales at the World Rugby U20 Championship but Logan Franklin (right) is injured (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency) 'I think it is a very balanced squad with some quality experience returning from last year and some added emphasis from guys who have performed well during the Six Nations,' said Whiffin. 'We've got a pack that we feel can really deliver at the World Cup and look to be dominant at both the scrum and line-out and as a team we fully understand how we want to play. 'We've got some fantastic work rate in our outside backs that will not only get the ball back for us but be a real threat when we've got the ball.' Wales will need to show the fighting spirit that earned them Six Nations upsets against Ireland and England after they had edged out Italy in the second round of the championship. 'The pleasing thing is the boys are confident and they know they can go out there and compete with so-called top teams in the competition and we're not afraid,' said Whiffin. 'We're going out there saying we want to get into that top semi-final bracket and once you get into that bracket you never know what's going to happen. 'It means we'll need to play well and back those performances up but the boys are confident and we were close last year but didn't get over the line. 'I think we've proved in the Six nations we can knock over some of those tighter games so hopefully we can see that in the World Cup.' Wales, who finished eighth last year, start against Argentina on Sunday, June 29 (kick-off 7.30pm) then face second seeds France on Friday, July 4 (kick-off 2.30pm) and finish the group stages against the Spanish on Wednesday, July 9 (kick-off 2.30pm). That is followed by two more fixtures, either to play for the trophy or placings with the 12th-placed side dropping down to next year's World Rugby U20 Trophy. Wales U20 squad Forwards (17): Ioan Emanuel (Bath), Louie Trevett (Bristol), Harry Thomas (Scarlets), Saul Hurley (Aberavon), Evan Wood (Pontypool), Sam Scott (Bristol), Owain James (Dragons), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs), Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol), Nick Thomas (Dragons), Tom Cottle (Cardiff), Dan Gemine (Ospreys), Deian Gwynne (Gloucester), Harry Beddall (Dragons – captain), Caio James (Gloucester), Evan Minto (Dragons). Backs (13): Sion Davies (Cardiff), Ellis Lewis (Neath), Harri Wilde (Cardiff), Harri Ford (Dragons), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff), Elis Price (Scarlets), Elijah Evans (Cardiff), Osian Roberts (Sale), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff), Aidan Boshoff (Bristol), Lewis Edwards (Ospreys), Jack Woods (Bath), Tom Bowen (Cardiff).
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Whiffin names 'balanced' Wales U20 squad for World Champs
Wales head coach Richard Whiffin says his squad head to the World Rugby U20 Championship believing they can "compete with so-called top teams".Whiffin has named a largely settled selection for the tournament starting later this month in Italy, with Neath scrum-half Ellis Lewis the only uncapped player in a squad of scrum-half Logan Franklin was unavailable after injuring his arm in Friday's 47-19 final warm-up win against Italy in begin their campaign in Pool B against Argentina on 29 June in side then face France on 4 July in Rovigo and complete the pool stage against Spain on 9 July back in Verona."I think it is a very balanced squad with some quality experience returning from last year and some added emphasis from guys who have performed well during the Six Nations," said placed eighth at last year's Championship. They finished third in this year's Six Nations with three wins, including victory against England. Whiffin used more than 40 players in two preparation games - they were also beaten 47-14 by world champions England in Pontypool - before finalising his squad which will be captained by Dragons flanker Harry Beddall."The England game was always going to be tough on the back of what was a really tough training week, and then to challenge ourselves against the world champs was brilliant," said Whiffin."I thought it cemented a few thoughts in our heads - 14-14 at 60 minutes I thought we had competed well and then we had a very polished performance against Italy."We're excited about the Championship but we still have a week's training ahead of us before we get on the plane for Italy, but we've done the hard work in terms of whittling down what was a really strong training squad to the 30 selected."Having denied England a first Grand Slam in four years with a 23-13 victory at Cardiff Arm's Park in this year's Six Nations finale, Whiffin also believes his squad head to Italy with no fear."I think the pleasing thing is the boys are confident and they know they can go out there and compete with so-called top teams in the competition and we're not afraid," he said."We're going out there saying we want to get into that top semi-final bracket and once you get into that bracket you never know what's going to happen." Wales squad: Forwards: Ioan Emanuel, Louie Trevett, Harry Thomas, Saul Hurley, Evan Wood, Sam Scott, Owain James, Jac Pritchard, Luke Evans, Kenzie Jenkins, Nick Thomas, Tom Cottle, Dan Gemine, Deian Gwynne, Harry Beddall (capt), Caio James, Evan Sion Davies, Ellis Lewis, Harri Wilde, Harri Ford, Steffan Emanuel, Elis Price, Elijah Evans, Osian Roberts, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Aidan Boshoff, Lewis Edwards, Jack Woods, Tom Bowen. Wales' Pool B fixtures Sunday, 29 June Argentina U20 v Wales U20, Payanini Center, Verona (19:30 BST)Friday, 4 July France U20 v Wales U20, Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo (14:30 BST)Wednesday, 9 JulyWales U20 v Spain U20, Payanini Center, Verona (14:30 BST)
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Beddall back to lead Wales U20s against Italy
Flanker Harry Beddall returns for Wales Under-20s to face their Italian counterparts at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday (16:30 BST).The game is Wales' last before the head to the 2025 World Rugby Junior Championship which kicks off in Italy at the end of will come into a back row that includes number eight Evan Minto - he is one of three survivors from Wales' 47-14 defeat by England in Pontypool last Harri Ford and wing Ioan Duggan also hold onto their spots to face Italy in an otherwise much-changed matchday squad."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 and so it was almost a case of getting a few boys some minutes before we get on the plane," said Whiffin. Wales edged past Italy in the U20 Six Nations and Whiffin expects a stern challenge from the said: "They 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 got 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." Wales' World Championship kicks off against Argentina on 29 June with games against France and Spain to follow. Wales U20s: Jack Woods; Ioan Duggan, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Steffan Emanuel, Aidan Boshoff; Harri Ford, Logan Franklin; Ioan Emanuel, Harry Thomas, Sam Scott, Dan Gemine, Luke Evans, Deian Gwynne, Harry Beddall (capt), Evan Minto. Replacements: Evan Wood, Louie Trevett, Jac Pritchard, Tom Cottle, Nick Thomas, Ryan Jones, Caio James, Keanu Evans, Sion Davies, Harri Wilde, Elis Price, Lewis Edwards, Sion Jones, Carwyn Legatt-Jones.
