By David Williams
Morgan Morse will become the most-capped player for Wales U20 when he plays against the Junior Springboks in the final game at the 2024 World Rugby Junior Championship.
It will be his 24th appearance, taking him past the 23 won by former Scarlets wing Ryan Conbeer, but he could go on to win 10 more next season.
The Ospreys back row man is still only 19 and made his debut against France as a 17-year-old – before he played for Wales U18!
He has already played 18 times for the senior Ospreys side in the BKT United Rugby Championship and in Europe and is one of the rising stars in his age group.
So, too, is skipper Ryan Woodman, who will bring down the curtain on his three-year stint in the U20 side by leading his team out yet again at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town. It will be his 22nd cap, having missed out on this year’s five matches in the Six Nations due to injury.
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Completing the back row will be Cardiff Rugby’s Lucas de la Rua, who made his senior debut in the Investec Champions Cup in Toulouse last season. He will be winning his 16th cap.
It will be cap No 17 for Harlequins lock Johnny Green and Bath centre Louie Hennessey. They will all head into senior rugby next season, with Morse unlikely to figure again for the U20s despite his eligibility.
“It will be something new for some of the boys to play against the Junior Springboks. It will be a great experience for all of us to meet them at the DHL Stadium,” said Woodman.
“It will be my Last game for Wales at this level and I will be able to look back on many fond memories. We’ve been incredibly frustrated in losing three games this year to New Zealand, France and Australia, and the aim is to end on a high.
“It has been a common theme for us in giving away a few soft tires and not being clinical enough. New Zealand won the Rugby Championship, and we should have beaten them, the French are three-in-row-champions at this tournament, and we could have beaten them, and the Aussies thrashed last year but only just escaped with a win against us this time.
“What everyone wants to do is win this last game together. Nothing would mean more to this group, especially those of us who are graduating into full-time senior rugby, than to end on a high.
“For some of us, next season is when our professional rugby careers really start. Everything up until now has been building up to this stage and after a three-week break we’ll all be back into training at our regions and clubs hoping to bid for starts.”
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For the second year running Wales have been able to run the Junior All Blacks close at what is effectively an U20 World Cup, and they got close against both the French and the Australians.
But head coach Richard Whiffin wants more from his side – this year and next.
“The goal is getting the Welsh players at this age level used to beating the southern hemisphere sides and taking some big scalps. We don’t want them to be carrying any scar tissue forward when they graduate into regional and senior Welsh jerseys,” said Whiffin.
“Morgan Morse has been outstanding for us and the fact he will be setting a record for the number of caps at U20 level shows the level of his talent, his dedication and his professionalism.
“But reaching 24 caps won’t mean as much to him or us if we can’t help him graduate into the big shirt in the future. That’s our role and duty.”
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Read our recent story about Morgan Morse.
Wales U20s Turn To Ryan Woodman And Morgan Morse Once More, Along With Jonny Green For France Clash