The Wales national under-20 rugby union team is for Welsh rugby union players aged 20 or under on 1 January of the year during which they are selected.

Under-20 age grade rugby came into existence as a result of the IRB combining the Under 19 Rugby World Championship and Under 21 Rugby World Championship into a single IRB Junior World Championship tournament.WRU: IRB Junior World Championships: Wales 2008: About the Tournament They also compete in the Six Nations Under 20s Championship.

Six Nations Under-20 Championship Wales finished second in the 2008 tournament, losing only to England.

In 2013 Wales were denied a Grand Slam in their final match against England, and ultimately placing second on points difference.

Wales finally achieved a Grand Slam and their first U20 title in 2016, defeating Italy on the final week 35–6, having been level 6–6 at half time. They also secured their first Triple Crown at this age group.

In 2023, the side did not win a single match, leading to their first winless tournament of the U20 era.

Ahead of the 2024 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, Richard Whiffin was named as head coach, replacing Mark Jones who joined the Ospreys.

Junior World Championships

In June 2008 Wales hosted the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship. As hosts they played all their group matches at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, starting against Italy on Friday 6 June, before further ties against Japan and France.WRU: IRB Junior World Championships: Wales 2008: Fixtures & Results Wales won all three group matches before losing the semi-final to New Zealand and subsequently losing the 3rd place play-off to South Africa.

For the tournament the same management team remained from the 2008 U20 Six Nations; head coach Patrick Horgan and assistant coaches Rob Appleyard and Wayne Jones. Sam Warbuton remained as captain.

For the next two Junior World championships, Wales alongside France will have to start the pool stages with a three-point deficit, following a brawl between the two sides in the 2008 tournament.

At the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship the Welsh squad won 2 games in the preliminary round against Samoa and Fiji while losing to New Zealand. At the playoffs for the 5th–8th place they first drew with Argentina 19–19 but lost in a drop goal shootout 9–8 and then met Fiji for a second time, again winning by 39–15 to finish in 7th place.

In 2011, after winning their opening game 34–8 against Argentina they were on the receiving end of a 92–0 thrashing by New Zealand in Italy, a record defeat for the side.

In 2012 Wales beat New Zealand 9–6, the first time the Baby Blacks have ever been defeated in the competition. This was also the first Welsh win against New Zealand at any level since 1954. However, later in the tournament Wales lost 30-6 to New Zealand in the semi-final.

2013 was the side's most successful year, making it to the final, where they faced England. Wales lead 15–3 at half time, but ultimately lost 23–15.

Ahead of the 2023 Junior World Championship, former international wing Mark Jones was appointed as head coach, replacing Byron Hayward.

Players Current squad

Head coach Richard Whiffin named a 30-man squad for the 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship.

PlayerPositionClubTom HoweHooker CardiffJames TalamaiHooker DragonsOscar ThomasHooker Bath RugbyDylan JamesProp OspreysGeorge TuckleyProp DragonsYestyn CookProp ScarletsIsaac GodfreyProp Exeter ChiefsJac PritchardProp ScarletsTom CottleLock CardiffLuke EvansLock Exeter ChiefsWill EvansLock ScarletsOsian B WilliamsLock Bristol BearsDeian GwynneBack Row GloucesterCaio JamesBack Row GloucesterEvan MintoBack Row DragonsSam MorganBack Row OspreysAlex RidgewayBack Row Bath RugbyOsian WilliamsBack Row ScarletsSion DaviesScrum-half CardiffCai GealyScrum-half Bristol BearsCarwyn Leggatt-JonesFly-half ScarletsLloyd LucasFly-half CardiffBailey CuttsCentre CardiffOsian Darwin-LewisCentre CardiffSteffan EmanuelCentre CardiffJack HoskinsCentre OspreysBrogan LearyCentre DragonsTom BowenWing CardiffDylan ScottWing Cardiff MetRhys CummingsFullback CardiffLewis EdwardsFullback Ospreys

Award winners The following Wales U20s players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2008:

+ World Rugby Junior Player of the Year Year Nominees Winners 2013 Sam Davies Sam Davies

Management Position Name Head coach Richard Whiffin Assistant coach Richie Pugh Defence coach Scott Sneddon Forwards coach Sam Hobbs Strength & conditioning Rhodri Williams Team manager Andy Lloyd

Results and statistics + Junior World Championships Year P W D L PF PA Diff BP Pts Pool place Play-offs Final position 2008 3 3 0 0 85 39 +46 2 14 1st (Semifinals) Lost to New Zealand 31–6 (3rd Place Final) Lost to South Africa 43–18 4th 2009 3 2 0 1 107 58 +49 2 7 2nd (5th–8th Semifinals) Beat Ireland 19–17(5th Place Final) Lost to France 68–13 6th 2010 3 2 0 1 63 59 +4 0 8 2nd (5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to Argentina 19–19 (9–8 in drop goal shootout)(7th Place Final) Beat Fiji 39–15 7th2011320190106 -162103rd(5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to Fiji 34–20 (7th Place Final) Beat Ireland 38–247th2012330012727 +1002111st(Semifinals) Lost to New Zealand 30–6 (3rd Place Final) Beat Argentina 25–173rd201333009344 +491131st(Semifinals) Beat South Africa 18–17 (Finals) Lost to England 23–152nd201432018257 +25192nd(5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to France 19–18 (7th Place Final) Beat Samoa 20–37th201531029252 +40153rd(5th–8th Semifinals) Beat Ireland 22–12 (5th Place Final) Lost to Australia 28–236th201631025253 -1373rd(5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to New Zealand 71–12 (7th Place Final) Beat Scotland 42–197th201731029378 +15263rd(5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to Scotland 29–25 (7th Place Final) Beat Italy 25–247th201832015480 -26082nd(5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to Argentina 39–15 (7th Place Final) Beat Italy 34–177th201932018785 +2193rd(5th–8th Semifinals) Beat New Zealand 8–7 (5th Place Final) Lost to England 45–266th202331028689 -3373rd(5th–8th Semifinals) Beat Georgia 40–21 (5th Place Final) Lost to Australia 57–336th202431027680 -4273rd(5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to Australia 36–29 (7th Place Final) Lost to South Africa 47–318th202531028394 -11163rd(5th–8th Semifinals) Lost to England 51–13 (7th Place Final) Lost to Italy 31–238th + Under 20 Six Nations Championships Season P W D L P Position 2007 5 1 1 3 3 4th 2008 5 4 0 1 8 2nd 2009 5 1 0 4 2 5th 2010 5 3 0 2 6 3rd 2011 5 2 1 2 5 3rd 2012 5 2 0 3 4 4th 2013 5 4 0 1 8 2nd 2014 5 3 0 2 6 3rd 2015 5 4 0 1 8 3rd 2016 5 5 0 0 10 1st (Grand Slam) 2017 5 3 0 2 14 3rd 2018 5 2 0 3 10 5th 2019 5 2 0 3 10 4th 2020 5 2 0 3 8 Tournament suspended 2021 5 2 0 3 9 4th 2022 5 1 0 4 6 5th 2023 5 0 0 5 3 6th 2024 5 2 0 3 10 5th 2025 5 3 0 2 12 3rd 2026 5 1 0 4 8 4th

Honours World Rugby Under 20 Championship Runners-up (1): 2013 Six Nations Under 20s Championship Winners (1): 2016 Grand Slam (1): 2016 Triple Crown (1): 2016

References