Wales could give debuts to 20 players in Friday’s U20 international with Italy in Milan’s Stadio Giovanni Mari.
Head coach Jason Strange’s matchday squad for the opener includes just three players who have previously appeared in Jared Rosser, Keiron Assiratti and Morgan Sieniawski.
Newport Gwent Dragons wing Rosser was in exemplary form for Wales Sevens in Dubai and Cape Town earlier this season.
Cardiff Blues tighthead Assiratti made a cameo in the 2016 World Rugby U20 Championship while Blues blindside Sieniawski is a member of last season’s Grand Slam-winning squad.
“Usually, in your first U20 Six Nations game you’d expect ten or twelve new caps,” said Strange.
“But we’ve got a particularly young group this year, several of whom will be available next year which makes this Friday a good opportunity to start exposing them to international rugby.
“We know Italy will pose a real challenge, especially at home, but we’re focusing on producing a strong team performance to start the campaign.”
Strange reckons the prospect of almost an entire squad gaining their first cap at this level means there is a heightened sense of anticipation in camp.
He added: “They’re tremendously excited about representing their country. It’s a huge honour, which has been reflected in the intensity of their approach to training since coming into camp.”
Tickets for the Wales U20 matches at Parc Eirias against England on February 10th and Ireland (March 11th) are now available.
Wales U20 team to face Italy U20
15 Will Talbot-Davies (Newport Gwent Dragons) 14 Jared Rosser (Newport Gwent Dragons) 13 Ioan Nicholas (Scarlets) 12 Kieran Williams (Ospreys) 11 Ryan Conbeer (Scarlets) 10 Ben Jones (Cardiff Blues) 9 Dane Blacker (Cardiff Blues) 1 Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues) 2 Ellis Shipp (Newport Gwent Dragons) 3 Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Blues) 4 Alex Dombrandt (Cardiff Blues) 5 Max Williams (Newport Gwent Dragons) 6 Morgan Sieniawski (Cardiff Blues) 7 Will Jones (c) (Ospreys) 8 Morgan Morris (Gloucester)
Replacements
16 Corrie Tarrant (Cardiff Blues) 17 Steff Thomas (Scarlets) 18 Chris Coleman (Newport Gwent Dragons) 19 Jack Pope (Ospreys) 20 Aled Ward (Cardiff Blues) 21 Declan Smith (Scarlets) 22 Phil Jones (Ospreys) 23 Cameron Lewis (Cardiff Blues)