Wales U20s play for World places in England warm-up

Wales Under-20s head coach Richard Whiffin says places in his World Championship squad will be up for grabs when they take on England in a warm-up game on Friday, 6 June.

Evan Minto captains the side which features a number of changes from the team which beat England in the final game of the Under-20 Six Nations.

Number eight Minto forms a new-look back row which includes Dragons team-mate Ryan Jones and Gloucester flanker Caio James.

Former skipper Harry Beddall is among the replacements.

Friday's game at Pontypool Park is the first of two warm-ups with the other a week later at Cardiff Arms Park against Italy.

The World Championships take place in Italy, with Wales drawn against Argentina in the opening match on 29 June.

"We've had guys in camp for three weeks working super hard and they deserve an opportunity," said Wales Under-20s head coach Richard Whiffin.

"We said to the group at the start of the campaign we were going to use it as a selection game in terms of whittling the squad down from 45 down to 30 so there will be guys playing on Friday night putting their hands up for the plane ticket to Italy.

"So pressure goes onto those guys but ultimately if they can perform on Friday in a big game against England then it sets them up well for the World Cup."

Speaking of handing Minto the captaincy, Whiffin added: "He is a local Pontypool guy plus we wanted to see a slightly different back row.

"From the performances he put in during the Six Nations, he has certainly put his hand up for the captaincy role."