WALES V SCOTLANDU20 Six Nations

Rodney Parade, Newport • Friday 8 February, 7:10pm

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£2.00

Welcome

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I am delighted to welcome Scotland and all supporters fromboth nations to Rodney Parade this evening for this Round 2match of the 2008 Under 20 Six Nations Championship.

Performances in this season’s Six Nations are particularlyimportant as Wales will host the inaugural Junior WorldChampionship in June when the leading 16 nations worldwidewill have teams competing for the global title.

Wales lost 28-15 to England and Scotland were beaten 12-6 byFrance in Round 1 last weekend so both teams will be keen tofind the winning formula this evening as they prepare for thosesummer challenges.

The senior stars of the future of both nations are on parade thisevening and I am sure we are in for a match high in quality andintensity.

My thanks to all those at Rodney Parade for their hard work instaging Wales’s home Under 20 Six Nations matches this seasonand my best wishes to both teams.

DAVID PICKERING - CHAIRMAN OF THE WELSH RUGBY UNION

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The Welsh Rugby Union is aimingto deliver the 'best age grouptournament ever' when it hosts

the inaugural Junior WorldChampionship at Under 20 level inJune (6 - 22).

The top sixteen nations in the worldwill compete for the world title in a new-look tournament which is to replace boththe IRB Under 21 and Under 19 WorldChampionships.

Wales are seeded fourth for thetournament, following their semi-finalposition at last season's IRB Under 19World Championships. This gives themthe top spot in Pool D and PatrickHorgan’s side will be based in Swanseafor the Pool stage while the other threetop seeds are New Zealand (Pool A,Cardiff), South Africa (Pool B, Wrexham)and Australia (Pool C, Newport). Theother sides competing here at RodneyParade are England, Fiji and Canada,while today’s opponents Scotland will befighting it out against South Africa,Samoa and the USA for the top spot inPool B at the Racecourse, Wrexham.

All of Wales will benefit from this elite,global event, both in terms of thematches being spread across thePrincipality – and in the comprehensiveprogramme of activity around thetournament which will ensure a lastinglegacy to all elements of Welsh rugby.From elite players, coaches and refereesto volunteers, players, coaches andadministrators in the grassroots game,there will be something for everyone.

For example, fifteen clubs aroundWales have been chosen as bases for theparticipating teams, where theinternational sides will train and interactwith the local community.

Junior players in those areas will havethe opportunity to watch their ‘adopted’nations train, ask them questions andultimately, watch them in match action.

There are also opportunities forvolunteers to lend a hand and help turnthe tournament into a huge success.

WRU Group Chief Executive RogerLewis said, "The Junior WorldChampionship will bring the world'selite, young talent to Wales. Our aim is tocreate a top-class tournament that willnot only be extremely memorable for allthose future professional rugby playerscompeting in the tournament, and theirfamilies and supporters, but one whichwill leave a lasting legacy for Welshrugby and for the world of rugby."

WRU chairman David Pickering, whois an IRB Council member said, "It was akey element of our strategy that all ofWelsh rugby should benefit from thistournament and the development plan inplace will make sure of that. We are also

convinced that North Wales will not onlyplay an integral part of the tournament,but will add something extra to theexperience."

Dr Syd Millar, chairman of the IRB atthe time Wales was chosen to host thetournament, said "The IRB is delightedthat Wales will host the first IRB JuniorWorld Championship for Under 20teams next year. There are few countriesto rival the rugby heritage of Wales andthe prospect of a new internationaltournament coming to Wales next yearwill, I am sure, generate a great deal ofexcitement and interest within theprincipality and the wider rugbycommunity.”

The tournament will benefit from anaward of up to £400,000 from UKSport's National Lottery backed World

Wales Under 20 squad captain Sam Warburton in action against New Zealand at last year’sIRB Under 19 World Championship

Breeding ground of stars

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GreenparkWALES XV OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME Designed & produced byT: 0117 977 9188 F: 0117 977 5156 W: www.greenparkpublishing.com

Programme edited by Liz JonesWRU communication office T: 02920 822 463

Class Events Programme, and the WRUhas also received significant support inits bid to stage this global tournamentfrom the Welsh Assembly Government.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas, the SportsMinister said: "I'm delighted that theWelsh Assembly Government has beenable to work with the Welsh Rugby Unionto bring the inaugural Junior WorldChampionship at Under 20 level to Walesnext year. The Championship is thepinnacle of age-grade rugby and theInternational Rugby Board's decision tohold it here means that the world's bestyoung rugby talent will be on show righthere in Wales.

"The spread of games between

Swansea, Wrexham, Newport and Cardiffmeans that people all over Wales will geta chance to see the games and give ourvisitors a wider taste of what Wales as a

country has to offer. I certainly hope theWelsh team will make the most of thehome advantage, secure the trophy andgive a boost to rugby in Wales".

IRB JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPWALES 2008

Pool A - Cardiff Arms Park• New Zealand • Argentina • Ireland • Tonga Pool B – The Racecourse, Wrexham• South Africa • USA • Samoa • ScotlandPool C – Rodney Parade • Australia • England • Canada • Fiji Pool D – The Liberty Stadium, Swansea• Wales • France • Italy • Japan

FOR FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE, VISIT WWW.WRU.CO.UK/JWCSCHEDULE

Rhys Williams’s side reached the final the last time Wales hosted an international age grade tournament

When folk speak aboutJonathan Davies and hisrugby quality, they are

normally referring to that man on thetelly, the former Neath, Llanelli andWales outside half who is betterknow around Wales as Jiffy.

Well, not anymore. There's a newkid in town. Same club, same name,different build. What's more Jonathan"Don't call me Jon" Davies mark two isstarting to make the same powerfulwaves as his namesake did back in hisearly days at Trimsaran.

Last Friday, the powerfulcentre who has alreadybeen compared to ayoung ScottGibbs displayedhis precocious

talent in front of the Kingsholm crowdin Gloucester as Wales Under 20skicked off their Six Nations campaignwith a defeat at the hands of England.

A loser - on that occasion - he mighthave been, but Welsh rugby hasuncovered a real winner in the 19-year-old from Laugharne. Aproduct of Whitland RFCand the WRU Scarletsacademy, JonathanDavies is a

special talent. Already established as amember of the Scarlets senior squad,the teenage prodigy is way ahead ofhis time.

And despite being a touch bashfulwhen compared with Gibbs, Daviescertainly doesn’t mind sharing thesame name with one of Welsh rugby'smost famous sons. Well, at least hisgrandmother wouldn't have it anyother way.

"Please don't call me Jon as mygrandmother gets upset when shesees it in the papers," said Davies.

He said, "To be compared to ScottGibbs is very humbling. If I canachieve just half of what he did in hiscareer, thatwould beamazing.”

“We still have everything toplay for in this Championship”

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Player Focus

The comparison was made byScarlets' assistant coach PaulMoriarty, who said, "He isprobably the closest thing wehave had to a Scott Gibbs type of12 in Welsh rugby for a longtime," said Moriarty, who played

alongside Gibbs during theirtime at Swansea. "Jonathan has got absolute

power with the skill to go with it.When you look at his testing

with the Union’s academyset-up, some of his

power outputs arecomparable to world

class rugby players.

“When you look at a 19-year-old doingthat now, in two or three years timewhat is his potential?”

Davie’s emergence as one of thegame's brightest prospects washampered last year when he suffered aserious leg break picked up at the IRBUnder 19 World Championship inDubai which kept him out of the gamefor the best part of a year.

However, with that enforced restbehind him, Davies is back with avengeance and ready to continue hisdevelopment, with the Scarlets andnow with the Wales Under 20 squadwho, after the Six Nations campaign,will turn their attentions to the

upcoming Junior WorldChampionship here in Wales.

He said, "We showed tremendousendeavour last week against England,and the result could have beendifferent but for some missed chancesin the first half.

“We still have everything to play forin this Championship and we arelooking forward to our first homegame against Scotland to try and getus back on track. We want to win allour remaining games, but ultimatelywe are building towards the JuniorWorld Championship in June wherethe best Under 20 teams in the worldwill be competing for the top spots.”

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ClubRegionWales U20

Today’s Teams

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Scotland U20

1. RYAN BEVINGTON

2. RYAN PROSSER

3. SCOTT ANDREWS

4. HAYDN PUGH

5. JEVON GROVES (CAPT)

6. JUSTIN TIPURIC

7. NIC CUDD

8. JOSH TURNBULL

9. LUKE EVANS

10. DANIEL BIGGAR

11. JIMMY NORRIS

12. JONATHAN DAVIES

13. RHYS WILLIAMS

14. LEIGH HALFPENNY

15. DANIEL EVANS

16. BEN ROBERTS

17. SAM HOBBS

18. ASHLEY SWEET

19. RORY PITMAN

20. GARETH WILLIAMS

21. NATHAN REES

22. JASON TOVEY

OSPREYS

BRISTOL

BLUES

SCARLETS

BLUES

OSPREYS

SCARLETS

SCARLETS

BLUES

OSPREYS

DRAGONS

SCARLETS

SCARLETS

BLUES

SCARLETS

DRAGONS

BLUES

DRAGONS

OSPREYS

OSPREYS

BLUES

DRAGONS

PROP

HOOKER

PROP

LOCK

LOCK

BLINDSIDE

OPENSIDE

NO.8

SCRUM HALF

FLY HALF

LEFT WING

CENTRE

CENTRE

RIGHT WING

FULL BACK

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

1. GARY STRAIN

2. ADRIAN DUNCAN

3. LEWIS NIVEN

4. JOSH BROWN

5. NEALE PATRICK

6. FRASER MCKENZIE

7. LEWIS CALDER (CAPT)

8. CRAIG SIMMONDS

9. ROSS SAMSON

10. JAMES MURRAY

11. CHRIS KINLOCH

12. STEPHEN MCCOLL

13. RUARIDH JACKSON

14. TOM BURY

15. MURRAY ALLAN

16. FRASER BROWN

17. ANGUS DIXON

18. CRAIG CHARTERS

19. STEVEN BURTON

20. MATTHEW HEEKS

21. STEVEN WILSON

22. LEE JONES

GLASGOW HAWKS & NATIONAL JUNIOR ACADEMY

STEWART’S-MELVILLE FP & NATIONAL SENIOR ACADEMY

EDINBURGH ACADEMICALS

BRISTOL

DUNFERMLINE

HERIOT’S & NATIONAL SENIOR ACADEMY

NEWCASTLE FALCONS

HERIOT’S

NEWCASTLE FALCONS

LEEDS CARNEGIE & EDINBURGH ACADEMICALS

EDINBURGH ACADEMICALS & NATIONAL SENIOR ACADEMY

DUNFERMLINE & NATIONAL JUNIOR ACADEMY

GLASGOW HAWKS & NATIONAL SENIOR ACADEMY

BOROUGHMUIR & NATIONAL JUNIOR ACADEMY

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY

BIGGAR

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR RUGBY

HAWICK

CURRIE

LONDON SCOTTISH

DUNDEE HSFP & NATIONAL JUNIOR ACADEMY

SELKIRK

PROP

HOOKER

PROP

LOCK

LOCK

BLINDSIDE

OPENSIDE

NO.8

SCRUM HALF

FLY HALF

LEFT WING

CENTRE

CENTRE

RIGHT WING

FULL BACK

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

MATCH OFFICIALS REF: GREG GARNER (RFU) TJ 1: DAVID ROSE TJ 2: BOB MULLIS (BOTH RFU) TJ 3: PHIL HARRHY TJ 4: FRED PHILLIPS (BOTH WRU) TMO: GEOFF WARREN (RFU) CITING COMMISSIONER: FRANCIS PALMADE (FFR)

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Wales U20 Squad

BluesDoB: 1.08.89, LlantrisantHeight: 1.88mWeight: 115kgInternational record: WelshSchools u16, Wales u18

DA

NIE

L B

IGGA

ROUTSID

E H

ALF

OspreysDoB: 16.10.89, SwanseaHeight: 1.82mWeight:88kgInternational record: WelshSchools u16, Wales u18

OspreysDoB: 09.12.88, BridgendHeight: 1.83m Weight: 113kgInternational record: Welsh Schools u16, Walesu18, u19

ScarletsDoB: 12.10.88, CarmarthenHeight: 1.80m Weight: 102kg International record: Welsh Schools u16, Walesu18, u19

NIC

HOLA

S C

UDD

FLA

NKER

ScarletsDoB: 05.04.88, SolihullHeight: 1.86mWeight: 108kgInternational record: WelshSchools u16, Wales u18,u19

DA

NIE

L E

VA

NS

FULL B

ACK

ScarletsDoB: 15.11.88, SwanseaHeight: 1.82m Weight: 90kgInternational record: Welsh Schools u16, Walesu18, u19

LUKE E

VA

NS

SCRUM

HA

LF

DoB: 18.07.88, PooleHeight: 1.78mWeight: 83kgInternational record:Australia Under 18

BluesDoB: 8.03.88, CardiffHeight: 1.87mWeight: 98kgInternational record: Wales u18, u19, u20

LUKE F

ORD

OUTSID

E H

ALF

BluesDoB: 14.03.88Height: 1.88mWeight: 100kgInternational record: Welsh Schools u16, Walesu19

JEVON

GROVES

FLA

NKER

BluesDoB: 03.04.88, LlantrisantHeight: 1.92m Weight: 100kg International record: Wales u18, u19 L

EIG

H H

ALFPEN

NY

WIN

G

BluesDoB: 22.12.88, SwanseaHeight: 1.78m Weight: 84kg International record: Welsh Schools u16, Walesu18, u19

BLUESDoB: 13.05.88, BreconHeight: 1.93mWeight: 120kgInternational record: Wales Under 19

SA

M H

OBBS

LOOSE H

EA

D P

ROP

OspreysDoB: 04.06.88, Hillingdon,MiddlesexHeight: 1.83mWeight: 94kgInternational record:uncapped

JIM

MY N

ORRIS

WIN

G

DragonsDoB: 25.07.88, Newport Height: 1.87m Weight: 96kgInternational record: Wales u18, u19, u20

OspreysDoB: 05.11.88, BridgendHeight: 1.82m Weight: 90kgInternational record: Wales u19, Wales Sevens

BluesDoB: 19.01.88, PontypriddHeight: 1.85mWeight: 112kgInternational record: Wales u18, u19

JON

ATHA

N D

AVIE

SCEN

TRE

DA

N F

RA

NKS

BA

CK R

OW

RHYS L

AW

REN

CE

HOOKER

GA

RETH O

WEN

OUTSID

E H

ALF

PA

TRIC

K P

ALM

ER

TIG

HT H

EA

D P

ROP

SCOTT A

NDREW

STIG

HT H

EA

D P

ROP

RYA

N B

EVIN

GTON

LOOSE H

EA

D P

ROP

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adRORY P

ITM

AN

BA

CKROW

OspreysDoB: 06.10.89, BridgendHeight: 1.95mWeight: 118kgInternational record: Welsh Schools u16, Walesu18

LLOYD P

HIL

LIP

SFLA

NKER / N

O 8

ScarletsDoB: 01.06.88,Haverfordwest Height: 1.83m Weight: 95kgInternational record: WelshSchools u16, Wales u18, u19

RYA

N P

ROSSER

HOOKER

Bristol AcademyDoB: 10.07.88, CardiffHeight: 1.70Weight:97kgInternational record: Wales u16, England u18

ScarletsDoB: 29.12.88, St AsaphHeight: 1.95m Weight: 107kgInternational record:Welsh Schools u16, Walesu18, u19

HA

YDN

PUGH

LOCK

BluesDoB: 3.12.88, LlantrisantHeight: 1.83mWeight: 87kgInternational record:uncapped

Dragons DoB: 22.04.88,AbergavennyHeight: 1.81m Weight: 95kg International record: Wales u18, u19

ASHLEY S

WEET

LOCK

DragonsDoB: 01.04.89, PontypoolHeight: 1.95mWeight: 105International record: WelshSchools u16, Wales u18

OspreysDoB: 06.08.89, NeathHeight: 1.88m Weight: 107kgInternational record: Wales u18

JUSTIN

TIP

URIC

K

FLA

NKER

NA

THA

N R

EES

WIN

G

BEN

ROBERTS

HOOKER

DragonsDoB: 28.04.89, NewportHeight: 1.81mWeight: 83kgInternational record: Wales u18

BluesDoB: 05.10.88, CardiffHeight: 1.90mWeight: 100kg International record: Welsh Schools u16, Walesu 18, u19

OspreysDoB: 09.12.88, BridgendHeight: 1.82m Weight: 90kg International record: Welsh Schools u16, Walesu18, u19

RHYS W

EBB

SCRUM

HA

LF

JA

SON

TOVEY

FULL B

ACK

JOSHUA

TURN

BULL

LOCK / F

LA

NKER

BluesDoB: 07.03.88, NeathHeight: 1.70m Weight: 82kgInternational record: Welsh Schools u16, Walesu18, u19, Barbarians

ScarletsDoB: 27.01.88, CarmarthenHeight: 1.78mWeight: 96kg International record: Welsh Schools u16, Walesu18, u19

TEAM MANAGEMENT HEAD COACH - PATRICK HORGANHorgan was assistant Wales Under 19 coach last season, and helped the sidereach the last four of the IRB Under 19 World Championship in Belfast. Horgan iscurrently head coach of Principality Premiership side Ebbw Vale.

ASSISTANT COACHES - WAYNE JONES AND ROB APPLEYARD

TEAM MANAGER - ROBERT BEALE

FITNESS COACH - RYAN CAMPBELL

PHYSIO - BEN SEARLE

ANALYST - ANDY WATTS

GA

RETH W

ILLIA

MS

SCRUM

HA

LF

RHYS W

ILLIA

MS

CEN

TRE

ScarletsDoB: 12.03.88, HaverfordwestHeight: 1.93mWeight: 107kgInternational record: WelshSchools u16, Wales u18, u19

SA

M W

ARBURTON

NO 8

/ F

LA

NKER

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Scotland U20 SquBEN

AIN

SCOUGH

HOOKER

Northumbria University DoB: 19.04.88,Preston, LancashireHeight: 6ft 1in (1.85m) Weight: 15st 6lb (98kg)International record:Scotland u18

MURRA

Y A

LLA

NFULL B

ACK/C

EN

TRE

Loughborough UniversityDoB: 16.12.88, Edinburgh Height: 6ft 3in (1.90m).Weight: 14st 3lb (86kg)International record:Scotland u18, u19

JON

NY B

AIR

DBA

CK R

OW

WatsoniansDoB: 4.05.88, Edinburgh Height: 6ft 3in (1.90m).Weight: 14st 7lb (92kg). International record:Scotland u18

HaddingtonDoB: 20.12.89, Lanark Height: 6ft 1in (1.86m)Weight: 16st (102kg)International record:Scotland u18

FRA

SER B

ROW

NHOOKER

Glasgow Warriors andStirling CountyDoB: 7.9.88, Stirling Height: 5ft 11in (1.81m) Weight: 15st 4lb (97kg) International record:Scotland u18, u19

STEVEN

BURTON

LOCK F

ORW

ARD/B

ACK R

OW

CurrieDoB: 11.05.88, Edinburgh Height: 6ft 3in (1.90m) WEIGHT: 15st 12lb (101kg)International record:Scotland u18, u19

TOM

BURY

WIN

G/F

ULL B

ACK

BoroughmuirDoB: 29.02.88, Rugby, WarwickshireHeight: 6ft (1.83m) Weight: 13st 10lb (87kg)International record:Scotland u18, u19

Newcastle Falcons DoB: 4.05.88, EdinburghHeight: 5ft 11in (1.81m)Weight: 15st 4lb (97kg)International record:Scotland u18

LEW

IS C

ALDER

OPEN

-SID

E F

LA

NKER

Aberdeen Grammar Rugby DoB: 22.10.88, EdinburghHeight: 5ft 11in (1.80m) Weight: 16st 3lb(103kg)International record:Scotland u18

ADA

M F

ERRIE

RTIG

HT-H

EA

D P

ROP

SouthendDoB:18.06.88, EssexHeight: 5ft 11in (1.81m)Weight: 16st 9lb (106kg). International record:uncapped

MA

TT H

EEKS

SCRUM

HA

LF

London Scottish and StMary’s College, TwickenhamDoB: 21.03.88, Taiwan Height: 5ft 9in (1.75m)Weight: 11st 4lb (72kg)International record:Scotland u18, u19

Glasgow HawksDoB: 12.2.88, Northampton Height: 6ft (1.82m)Weight: 13st 10lb (87kg)International record:Scotland u18, u19 andScotland Sevens

RUA

RID

H J

ACKSON

OUTSID

E H

ALF

SelkirkDoB: 28.06.88, EdinburghHeight: 5ft 11in (1.81m)Weight: 13st 8lb (86kg). International record:Scotland u18A, u19

CHRIS

KIN

LOCH

CEN

TRE/W

ING

Edinburgh AcademicalsDoB: 17.12.88, Edinburgh Height: 6ft 1in (1.85m)Weight: 14st 7lb (92kg)International record:Scotland u18, u19 andScotland Sevens

DunfermlineDoB:16.08.88, DunfermlineHeight: 6ft 2in (1.88m) Weight: 15st 8lb (99kg)International record:Scotland u18, u19 andScotland Sevens

KEVIN

BRYCE

OPEN

-SID

E F

LA

NKE

AN

GUS D

IXON

LOOSE-H

EA

D P

ROP

LEE J

ON

ES

SCRUM

HA

LF/W

ING

STEVIE

MCCOLL

CENTRE/

OUTSID

E-HA

LF/F

ULL

BA

CK

BristolDoB: 06.12.88, Bath Height: 6ft 6in (1.98m)Weight: 16st 3lb (103kg)International record:Scotland u18, u19

JOSH B

ROW

NLOCK F

ORW

ARD/B

ACK R

OW

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quad

Heriot’sDoB: 28.3.88, DunfermlineHeight: 6ft 6in (1.98m)Weight: 17st 5lb (110kg) International record:Scotland u18, u19, u20F

RA

SER M

CKEN

ZIE

BLI

ND

-SID

E FL

AN

KER

/LO

CK F

OR

WA

RD

JA

MES M

URRA

YOUTSID

E-H

ALF

Leeds Carnegie andEdinburgh AcademicalsDoB: 16.12.88, Edinburgh Height: 5ft 10in (1.78m) Weight: 12st 8lb (80kg) International record:Scotland u18, u19

LEW

IS N

IVEN

PROP

Edinburgh AcademicalsDoB: 3.05.88, EdinburghHeight: 6ft 1in (1.86m)Weight: 17st 5lb (110kg)International record:Scotland u18, u19

NEA

LE P

ATRIC

KLOCK

DunfermlineDoB: 10.07.88, Perth Height: 6ft 8in (2.03m)Weight: 18st 7lb (117kg)International record:Scotland u18A, u19

Newcastle FalconsDoB: 17.01.88, EdinburghHeight: 5ft 9in (1.76m)Weight: 13st 6lb (85kg)International record:Scotland u18, u19

ROSS S

AM

SON

SCRUM

HA

LF

Aberdeen Grammar RugbyDoB: 26.12.88, EdinburghHeight: 5ft 11in (1.81m)Weight: 14st 11lb (94kg)International record:uncapped

Heriot’s DoB: 20.08.88, LanarkHeight: 6ft 4in (1.93m)Weight: 18st 13lb (120kg)International record:Scotland u18, u19

GA

RY S

TRA

INPROP

Glasgow HawksDoB: 19.04.88, Bellshill Height: 5ft 10½in (1.79m)Weight: 16st (102kg)International record:Scotland u18, u19

NIA

LL S

HA

NN

ON

HOOKER

CRA

IG S

IMM

ON

DS

NO.8

/BLIN

D-S

IDE F

LA

NKER/L

OCK

TEAM MANAGEMENT HEAD COACH - COLIN ROBERTSON

ASSISTANT COACH - BOB MCKILLIP

ASSISTANT COACH - EAMON JOHN

MANAGER - JOHN JEFFREY

FITNESS COACH - MARK DRURY

DOCTOR - JONATHAN HANSON

PHYSIO - KATE MORRIS

VIDEO ANALYST - STEPHEN GRAY

WWW.WRU.CO.UK12

For Dan Biggar read JamesHook. And maybe, justmaybe, for James Hook read

Dan Biggar in the future.As Warren Gatland’s selection for

this weekend’s Six Nations clash withScotland proved – three players weredropped after the first win atTwickenham in 20 years – playerscan take nothing for granted when itcomes to selection.

That’s why Hook, just two seasonsout of the Wales Under 21 side, iskeeping one eye on who is coming upbehind him as much as worryingabout his senior competition for theWales No 10 jersey.

Two years ago, when Wales lastmet Scotland at home in the thenUnder 21 Six Nations, it was Hookwho was at outside half for the homeside. That team had just been beatenby England at Worcester, so the

parallels with the current Under 20team are striking.

Instead of Hook, it is anotherbudding Ospreys outside half whowill be looking to steer Wales tovictory at Rodney Parade. Dan Biggaris the latest model off the WRUacademy production line and Hookhad a few words of encouragementfor him.

“It was a great moment playing forWales at Under 21 level. After losingat Worcester, we came back to beatthe Scots at Rodney Parade,” recalledHook.

“We played in front of a big crowdand all the players felt it was a realstep-up from what we had been usedto. The important message from thecoaches was that it was important todeliver a quality performance.

“Too often you can let emotion runaway with you and forget about the

“Playing at international level at whatever age is all aboutstaying calm, keeping a cool head and remaining focussed”

Back to the Future

Watch and Learn: Biggar evades senior Ospreys fly-half Shaun Connor

James Hook

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skills you have been practising. Playing atinternational level at whatever age is allabout staying calm, keeping a cool headand remaining focussed.

“The Under 21 side – along with WalesSevens later that season – gave me theplatform to launch my senior Test career. Ididn’t expect things to happen so fast forme, but I was playing in the full Walesteam in Argentina within a few months.

“When I finally got onto the field to winmy first cap I was able to fall back on theexperience of playing at Under 21 level. Itproved to be a big help.

“I know Dan very well and have trainedwith him a lot. He is a real talent and Iknow he will do Wales proud.”

Alongside Hook in the Wales Under 21side two years ago were three otherplayers who are now full Walesinternationals – Alun Wyn Jones, ChrisCzekaj and Jamie Roberts, who wins hisfirst cap at the Millennium Stadiumtomorrow - proving that the best talentrises to the top very quickly these days.

Jamie Roberts Chris Czekaj

Alun-Wyn Jones