{"id":16714,"date":"2017-02-07T16:19:36","date_gmt":"2017-02-07T16:19:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=16714"},"modified":"2017-02-07T16:19:36","modified_gmt":"2017-02-07T16:19:36","slug":"five-u20-stars-can-help-wales-retain-grand-slam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2017\/02\/07\/five-u20-stars-can-help-wales-retain-grand-slam\/","title":{"rendered":"Five U20 stars who can help Wales retain the Grand Slam"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">WALES\u00a0U20s got their Grand Slam defence underway in fine fashion last weekend with a 27-5 win away to Italy.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Such is the nature of age-grade rugby that sides undergo a complete regeneration every two years, with form very difficult to judge going into each new season. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jason Strange has assembled a particularly youthful squad, with Jared Rosser, Kieron Assiratti and Morgan Sieniawski the only survivors from last year\u2019s unbeaten campaign to feature at Stadio Giovanni Mari. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the fixture between the sides nine years ago, Wales ran out 33-13 winners with a side featuring Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb and Justin Tipuric. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Let\u2019s dust off the Cardiffian crystal ball and pick out the Welsh youngsters we think will follow in the footsteps of their predecessors.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_16735\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16735\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-16735\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Ryan_Conbeer-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"Ryan Conbeer has a big future ahead of him\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Ryan_Conbeer-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Ryan_Conbeer-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Ryan_Conbeer-770x576.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Ryan_Conbeer-500x374.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Ryan_Conbeer-293x219.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Ryan_Conbeer.jpg 1027w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16735\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-16735\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Ryan_Conbeer-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"Ryan Conbeer has a big future ahead of him\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Ryan_Conbeer-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Ryan_Conbeer-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Ryan_Conbeer-770x576.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Ryan_Conbeer-500x374.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Ryan_Conbeer-293x219.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Ryan_Conbeer.jpg 1027w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript> Ryan Conbeer has a big future ahead of him (Credit: Huw Evans Agency)<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\n<b>Ryan Conbeer<\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Despite having \u2018beer\u2019 in his name, the Scarlets academy winger has only been legally allowed to buy alcohol since Sunday, though he marked the passing of time with an outstanding, acrobatic finish in the corner to extend Wales\u2019 lead against the Italians.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hailing from Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire, Conbeer has made 10 appearances for Llanelli RFC this year along with a regional debut against Bath in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">His finish on Saturday was not the first time he\u2019s set social media alight. Playing for Scarlets U18s last year against the Ospreys, Conbeer ran in a scorching solo effort that saw him waltz through at first-receiver from a scrum before swerving past the full-back to complete a\u00a070-yard run-in. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He\u2019s been rewarded for his promise today with a development contract at the West Wales region.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_16737\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16737\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-16737\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_40-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"Rosser (c) celebrates the win over Italy \" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_40-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_40-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_40-770x576.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_40-500x374.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_40-293x219.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_40.jpg 1027w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16737\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-16737\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_40-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"Rosser (c) celebrates the win over Italy \" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_40-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_40-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_40-770x576.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_40-500x374.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_40-293x219.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_40.jpg 1027w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript> Rosser (c) celebrates the win over Italy (Credit: Huw Evans Agency)<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\n<b>Jared Rosser<\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Conbeer\u2019s wing partner on the weekend is no stranger to the Welsh jersey having featured for Wales Sevens before Christmas in the Dubai and Cape Town legs of the World Series. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A number of players have used sevens to launch their career in the 15-a-side game including Cory Allen and Alex Cuthbert, while Fiji-born winger Virimi Vakatawa represents France at both forms of the game despite not being attached to a club.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the longer version of the game, the 19-year-old from Abergavenny has been plying his trade with Ebbw Vale and the Dragons Premiership Select XV.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At just 17, Rosser scored the winning try for the Steelmen in their Premiership play-off semi-final last season before starting in the 38-12 win over Pontypridd in the final.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_16739\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16739\" style=\"width: 148px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-16739\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-216x300.jpg\" alt=\"Ben Jones converts one of Wales' tries\" width=\"148\" height=\"205\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-216x300.jpg 216w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-736x1024.jpg 736w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-770x1072.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-1103x1536.jpg 1103w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-1471x2048.jpg 1471w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-500x696.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-293x408.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-1400x1949.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-scaled.jpg 1839w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 148px) 100vw, 148px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16739\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-16739\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-216x300.jpg\" alt=\"Ben Jones converts one of Wales' tries\" width=\"148\" height=\"205\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-216x300.jpg 216w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-736x1024.jpg 736w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-770x1072.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-1103x1536.jpg 1103w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-1471x2048.jpg 1471w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-500x696.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-293x408.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-1400x1949.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_23-scaled.jpg 1839w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 148px) 100vw, 148px\" \/><\/noscript> Ben Jones converts one of Wales&#8217; tries against Italy (Credit: Huw Evans Agency)<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\n<b>Ben Jones<\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The 18-year-old fly-half from Merthyr Tydfil is another who has made his regional bow in this year\u2019s Anglo-Welsh Cup, while also representing the Blues Premiership Select XV.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Amid\u00a0rumours that the famed Welsh fly-half factory has had to shut up shop in recent years, Jones is the most recent proof that its demise has been exaggerated. In recent years, the U20 orchestra has been conducted by Biggar, Matthew Morgan, Sam Davies, and Dan Jones. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jones showed a maturity beyond his years to marshal his teammates to victory on the weekend, slotting three conversions and two penalties in dreadful conditions.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Coleg y Cymoedd student is following in the footsteps of previous pupils who have earned Blues contracts, including Jarrod Evans, Dillon Lewis and Aled Summerhill. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_16740\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16740\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-16740\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_32-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"Max Williams claims line out ball against Italy \" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_32-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_32-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_32-770x576.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_32-500x374.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_32-293x219.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_32.jpg 1027w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16740\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-16740\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_32-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"Max Williams claims line out ball against Italy \" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_32-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_32-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_32-770x576.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_32-500x374.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_32-293x219.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_030217_ItalyU20_WalesU20_32.jpg 1027w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript> Max Williams claims line out ball against Italy (Credit: Huw Evans Agency)<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\n<b>Max\u00a0Williams<\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Born in Lagos, Nigeria, the 18-year-old Dragons academy member packed down in the second row for his U20 debut against Italy.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Standing 6ft 5in tall, Williams\u00a0has made a habit of stepping up through the age-grades with aplomb, playing six times for Dragons U18 two seasons ago at the age of 16.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He impressed so much for Championship leaders Pontypool at the beginning of this term that he was re-allocated to Ebbw Vale in the top tier. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yet to make his regional debut, he is another to have gained experience this year playing for his region\u2019s Premiership Select XV.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_16741\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16741\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-16741\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Will_Jones_1-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"Captain Jones led from the front in the opener \" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Will_Jones_1-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Will_Jones_1-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Will_Jones_1-770x576.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Will_Jones_1-500x374.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Will_Jones_1-293x219.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Will_Jones_1.jpg 1027w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16741\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-16741\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Will_Jones_1-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"Captain Jones led from the front in the opener \" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Will_Jones_1-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Will_Jones_1-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Will_Jones_1-770x576.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Will_Jones_1-500x374.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Will_Jones_1-293x219.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2017\/02\/CDF_310117_CF_Will_Jones_1.jpg 1027w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript> Captain Jones led from the front in the opener (Credit: Huw Evans Agency)<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\n<b>Will Jones<\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The existence of the fly-half factory may have been in doubt, but there is no question that Wales\u2019 new openside-flanker factory is in the rudest of health.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This year\u2019s U20 side is captained by Ospreys flanker Will Jones. It is no surprise that the Gowerton Comprehensive School product has been named skipper, having also donned the armband for the Ospreys at U16 and U18 level, as well as for Wales U18. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Listed at just 5ft 7in on the Ospreys website, 18-year-old Jones isn\u2019t your typical modern-day forward, but his background in judo allied with a low centre of gravity makes him a real threat at the breakdown. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He certainly didn\u2019t disappoint on the weekend, winning the man-of-the-match award in Wales U20s\u2019 eighth successive victory. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Jones and his team will be looking to stretch that run to nine\u00a0at Parc Eirias on Friday evening against England.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WALES\u00a0U20s got their Grand Slam defence underway in fine fashion last weekend with a 27-5 win away to Italy. Such is the nature of age-grade rugby that sides undergo a complete regeneration every two years, with form very difficult to judge going into each new season. Jason Strange has assembled a particularly youthful squad, with Jared Rosser, Kieron Assiratti and Morgan Sieniawski the only survivors from last year\u2019s unbeaten campaign to feature at Stadio Giovanni Mari. In the fixture between [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":248,"featured_media":16740,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[151,4],"tags":[152,4321,1642,4322,4323,154,4324,328,339,312,4325],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-16714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rugby","category-sport","tag-italy","tag-ben-jones","tag-england","tag-jared-rosser","tag-max-williams","tag-rugby-2","tag-ryan-conbeer","tag-six-nations","tag-wales","tag-wales-u20s","tag-will-jones"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Five U20 stars who can help Wales retain the Grand Slam - The Cardiffian<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2017\/02\/07\/five-u20-stars-can-help-wales-retain-grand-slam\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Five U20 stars who can help Wales retain the Grand Slam - The Cardiffian\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"WALES\u00a0U20s got their Grand Slam defence underway in fine fashion last weekend with a 27-5 win away to Italy. 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