News & Features International Scotland Men U20

Ventisei to co-captain Scotland at World Rugby U20 Championship

19 Jun 2025

Johnny Ventisei will lead Scotland on their return to the World Rugby U20 Championship this summer, after the Glasgow Warriors academy centre was named as co-captain for the upcoming tournament by Scotland U20 Head Coach Kenny Murray.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 22: Warriors’ Johnny Ventisei in action during a match between Glasgow Warriors A and Black Lion at Scotstoun Stadium, on May 22, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

The 20-year-old is one of nine Glasgow Warriors talents selected in Murray’s playing group, with Scotland set to return to the top tier for the first time since 2019 following their World Rugby U20 Trophy victory in Edinburgh last summer.

All nine of the Glasgow contingent have featured for the club’s A team or U23 squad across the course of the 2024/25 campaign, with Seb Stephen having also made his senior professional debut for the club away to Leinster in the final match of the regular season.

Kerr Yule joins Ventisei amongst the centres selected by Murray and his coaching group, the former Ayrshire Bull having crossed for a brace of tries in Glasgow Warriors U23’s victory away to Benetton U23 last month.

Fergus Watson – a try-scorer for Glasgow Warriors A in their meeting with Black Lion at Scotstoun – features amongst the back-three options, whilst Matthew Urwin will look to continue his impressive U20 Six Nations form in the fly-half jersey.

Up front, Stephen is joined amongst the hookers by fellow Aberdonian, Joe Roberts, the pair having dove-tailed to impressive effect in the U20 Six Nations earlier this year.

Jake Shearer and Ollie McKenna are named amongst the options at prop, with both men having featured in Glasgow Warriors A colours during the 2024/25 season.

Dan Halkon rounds out the Glasgow Warriors academy cohort, the second-rower having caught the eye with a series of industrious displays in the engine room for both club and country this season.

Cameron van Wyk is also selected amongst the playing group, the Ayr RFC winger having started for Glasgow Warriors A against Black Lion after being invited to train with the Scotstoun outfit.

Scotland U20 begin their World U20 Championship campaign against England U20 in Verona on Sunday 29 June, with kick-off scheduled for 2.30pm UK time.