FIVE young Dragons have been selected for Wales Under-20s’ Six Nations opener against Scotland on Friday, writes Chris Kirwan.

Wing Joe Goodchild, lock Max Williams and back row forward Taine Basham start in Colwyn Bay (kick-off 8.15pm) while loosehead Josh Reynolds and scrum-half Dan Babos are on the bench.

The quintet have all made their regional debuts this season with dynamic forward Williams, who broke through into the Dragons seniors at the start of the campaign, proving his fitness by making his return from a shoulder injury in last week’s Anglo-Welsh Cup loss at Saracens.

Goodchild made his bow at Northampton, Basham played at Guinness PRO14 champions Scarlets, Reynolds started against the west Walians in the Anglo-Welsh while 17-year-old Babos has been something of a regular with nine appearances.

They now get the chance to show their promise in the red of Wales with boss Jason Strange excited by his side, which is captained by Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell.

“We’ve got a lot of promising youngsters in there, many of them still eligible for U18s,” said the head coach.

“But we had a very young squad last season too, which means we can benefit from the return of players like Ben Jones and Rhys Carre.

“We saw what a lot of these new boys are capable of during their time with the U18s last year, so it’s up to them to step up and show us what they can do in the U20s shirt in front of what is a terrific crowd in North Wales.”

The fixture is the second leg of a double-header after Wales Women kick off their campaign against the Scots at Parc Eirias.

Wales U20: Cai Evans (Ospreys), Joe Goodchild (Dragons), Corey Baldwin (Scarlets), Callum Carson (Ospreys), Ryan Conbeer (Scarlets), Ben Jones (Cardiff Blues), Harri Morgan (Ospreys), Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues), Iestyn Harris (Cardiff Blues), Sam Wainwright (RGC 1404), Jack Pope (Bridgend), Max Williams (Dragons), Tommy Reffell (captain, Leicester), Dan Davies (Scarlets), Taine Basham (Dragons).

Replacements: Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Josh Reynolds (Dragons), Rhys Henry (Ospreys), Morgan Jones (Scarlets), Morgan Morris (Ospreys), Dan Babos (Dragons), Ben Thomas (Cardiff Blues), Tommy Rogers (Scarlets)