The five young Welshmen who just caught Warren Gatland’s attention

Warren Gatland is said to have been focusing on Wales’ tour of Australia all summer, but he would also have been keeping a close eye on events in South Africa.

Wales U20 have won just one World Rugby U-20 Championship, against Spain, in a disappointing return, but there were some impressive individual performances throughout the season. Gatland is building a young team that he hopes can compete at the next World Cup and the hope is that the U20s can add a few extra players to the mix each year.

Rugby Correspondent Steffan Thomas selects the Wales U20 players who could break into Gatland’s first team in the coming seasons.

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Josh Morse

The 19-year-old loosehead is a very powerful scrummager and is highly regarded by both the Wales U20 management and the Scarlets coaches. Morse gave Baby Blacks tighthead Josh Smith a terrible time at the scrum in the narrow defeat to Wales U20 a few weeks ago.

He is also a dynamic carrier who gets across the gainline, while also making his share of tackles defensively. There are many within the Welsh Rugby Union who are confident that the Llandovery man will develop into a high-end international. Morse is likely to start the season with Llandovery in the new Super Rygbi Cymru campaign, but if there are no injuries it should not be long before he is playing in the United Rugby Championship.

Scarlets have Scotland prop Alec Hepburn, Wales loosehead Kemsley Mathias along with the emerging Sam O’Connor on their books, but it’s a matter of when not if Morse makes the breakthrough at regional level. For Wales, Gareth Thomas is the clear first choice, but Mathias and Corey Domachowski haven’t done enough to convince at Test level, while Gatland has been reluctant to select new Leicester Tigers signing Nicky Smith.

Morse has the qualities to go far in the game and if he can break through with the Scarlets in the coming seasons, he has a slim chance of reaching the next World Cup.

Louie Hennessey

It is undoubtedly a matter of when, not if, Hennessey breaks into the Wales senior team. WalesOnline understands the Bath centre was seriously considered for a place on this summer’s tour of Australia, but it was instead felt it would be better for his development to remain with the U20s.

At 6ft 3in and 16st 4lbs, Hennessey can get over the gainline, but he is much more than a simple crash-ball centre. The 20-year-old is a highly intelligent rugby player who brings others into the game and has the speed and power to blast holes in opposition defences.

But his distinguishing feature is his decision-making under pressure and his long-arm offload, reminiscent of All Blacks great Sonny Bill Williams. The short-term challenge for Hennessey will be to get game time with Bath, but here is a player who could be a first-choice for Wales at the 2027 World Cup if he remains injury-free.

Morgan Morse

It will come as no surprise that the Ospreys are in the No 8 position. Morse is one of the best backrow prospects in the world and will almost certainly win senior international honours within the next few years.

Morse has been a key player for the Ospreys this season with his dynamic carrying ability, his ability to break down and his physical defending that stands out. The 19-year-old has a real X-factor, as demonstrated when he scored a superb individual try from 45 metres out in dreadful conditions against Cardiff at the Brewery Field on New Year’s Day.

Some believe Morse would be better suited at openside, given his ability to strike out. But whatever his number, Wales have a serious contender on their hands.

Ryan Houtman

The Dragons backrower has been one of the standout performers for Wales U20s in recent seasons as captain. Woodman is a physical specimen who puts in a lot of unseen work, allowing other players to shine.

The athletic blindside is an excellent lineout forward who is tireless in defence and does his fair share of carrying. It would be a shock if Woodman does not get his fair share of minutes for the Dragons next season and his aim must be to establish himself in the starting XV at Rodney Parade.

If he can maintain a place in the Dragons backrow, international honours could soon follow, with the 20-year-old likely to be included in Gatland’s squad to tour Japan next summer.

Wales have the likes of Taine Plumtree, Christ Tshiunza and James Botham as blindside options, while Aaron Wainwright could also play there, but Woodman has the potential to add his name to the mix.

Jordan Morris

The Dragons prop faced stiff competition from Josh Morse and Ioan Emanuel for the number one shirt, but he is a serious prospect. The 20-year-old is an extremely explosive carrier who is capable of making big post contact metres, while also putting in a lot of work in defence.

Look at the senior Wales team and you will see a lack of powerful ball carriers in the front five. Morgan is still very young and his scrum skills are not yet what they should be, but his ceiling is very high. While carrying is his forte, Morris is also a very talented footballer and while playing for Pontypool Schools he scored a remarkable 27 tries in 20 games, breaking the record previously held by Taulupe Faletau.