NEWPORT High School Old Boys are relishing the prospect of seeing five of their young guns in action in the Under-20s Six Nations – four in red and another in green, writes Chris Kirwan.

Last week the Dragons trio of flanker Lennon Greggains, loosehead Josh Reynolds and wing Rio Dyer were named in the Wales squad along with fly-half Carwyn Penny, who is on Gloucester’s books after going to Clifton College.

Then on Monday the NHSOB contingent grew to five with wing/full-back James McCarthy, who signed a development contract with Munster last year after previously representing Wales Under-18s, picked by Ireland.

“Having known them from a young age, it’s brilliant to see their hard work paying off,” said club coach Rhys Thomas, the former Dragons and Wales prop.

“It was great to see the boys playing for Wales Under-18s, now it will be 20s, hopefully the next step will be professional rugby and then who knows?

“They are all proper clubmen, it’s a great achievement by the boys and exciting for their families and everyone at the club. It would be brilliant if they can all go up against each other in the game in Dublin.”

Five other Dragons feature in Jason Strange’s Wales squad – scrum-half Dan Babos, flankers Taine Basham and Max Williams, hooker Will Griffiths and wing/full-back Joe Goodchild.

Greggains, Reynolds, Babos, Basham, Williams and Goodchild have made their regional debuts for Bernard Jackman’s side this season.

Wales open their campaign against Scotland in Colwyn Bay a week on Friday before taking on England in Newcastle in round two.

They travel to Donnybrook on Friday, February 23 before ending in the north against Italy and France at Parc Eirias on Friday, March 9 and Friday, March 16.

Wales are building towards the World Rugby U20 Championship in France at the end of May and start of June. They have been handed a tough pool with New Zealand, Australia and Japan.