On the one hand, it looks as though they are in the doldrums. They have amassed just three wins in the last twelve games (none in last year’s tournament) and have only just found new coaches. However, on the other side of the coin, there have been moments of genuine quality. They finished sixth in last season’s World Championships, and in doing so played some eye-catching and effective rugby, utilising the doubtless talent they have at their disposal.
That campaign was under interim head coach Marc Jones, whose tenure brought real energy and zeal to a group of players so desperate for guidance and framework. He has since taken up a position with the Ospreys, recruited by Toby Booth, and the following period appeared to have brought some uncertainty.
But the light has become visible at the end of the tunnel. The WRU has appointed Richard Whiffen as U20 Head Coach and with him comes a huge amount of optimism and experience. Having coached with Scarlets, Gloucester, London Irish, England U20s, Wales Women and the Highlanders in New Zealand, Whiffin possesses a wonderful CV and will have the requisite acumen and coaching charisma to get the best out of a good group of players. Whiffin’s most recent interim role saw him looking after the WRU National Schools & Colleges League side, Cardiff & Vale College.
Added to this appointment is Rob Howley, linking up with the U20s as the coach in the Senior Men’s Squad responsible for the player pathway. One of the country's most decorated coaches, Howley led Wales to the 2013 Championship title and then as Warren Gatland’s assistant oversaw three Grand Slams (2008, 2012 and 2019), a RWC Semi-Final performance in 2011, as well as British & Irish Lions Tours in 2009, 2013 and 2017). Howley will rejoin Gatland’s team with the senior squad and link up with the likes of Mike Forshaw, Jonathan Humphreys, Neil Jenkins and Alex King.
But his initial project will be working with Whiffin and the U20s, and it is a huge filip to have gone from a state of uncertainty to benefiting from the guidance of two outstanding rugby coaches. Mind you, Howley and Whiffen will have their work cut out with little over two months to get ready for this forthcoming U20 Six Nations Campaign. But Huw Bevan, the WRU Performance Director, will be delighted to have such good men in place to take on such a task.
The last few years have seen many players shine at U20 level for Wales. Engine room occupants Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza have subsequently made senior team appearances. Talent such as Louie Hennessey, Mason Grady, and Joe Hawkins, all excelled at U20 Six Nations tournaments in recent memory. The prodigious Hawkins actually made his debut for the U20s as a seventeen-year-old.
However, in recent years, with the likes of Josh Hathaway, and now Kane James, heading over the border to represent England U20s, it will not have done much for morale. Without a published squad, it is difficult to see fully how things will shape up, but you can make a case that a fair few of last year’s squad, who performed so well at the World Championships (including good wins over Japan, Georgia and a one-point defeat to New Zealand), will mean that the squad will be competitive.
Players like Morgan Morse, Jonny Green, Louie Hennessey and Harri Wilde will shoulder a lot of responsibility in a team that will be keen to see leaders emerge. It is perhaps not an ideal situation to be so short on time and preparation, but sometimes sport allows strange things to happen when the odds are stacked against you. Wales could be the surprise package with such obvious talent and such good mentors in place. And as the ocean fisherman off the coast of Cardigan Bay will often tell you: “Out of the murkiest water come the shiniest fish.”
Wales fans will hope that their boys can land the biggest prize.
