Nine Glasgow Warriors academy prospects selected for World Rugby U20 Championship opener

Scotland U20 Head Coach Kenny Murray has named nine Glasgow Warriors academy talents in his matchday 23 for Sunday’s opening match of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy, as his side prepares to take on England in Verona.

Johnny Ventisei will lead the squad after being named at outside centre, the University of Strathclyde student having been appointed as co-captain ahead of the competition getting underway by Murray and his coaching team.

Ventisei is joined in the midfield by Kerr Yule, the pair having dove-tailed to impressive effect for Glasgow Warriors A across the 2024/25 campaign.

Fergus Watson starts on the wing after an impressive season for both Glasgow Warriors A and Scotland U20, having crossed for three tries in the U20 Six Nations earlier this year.

Matthew Urwin is selected at fly-half, after steering Scotland U20 to victory over Ireland U20 in their warm-up fixture in Belfast a fortnight ago.

Up front, Joe Roberts is given the nod at hooker, the Aberdonian having been named on the bench for Glasgow Warriors’ victory over Connacht back in January.

He joins Jake Shearer in the front-row, the Cumnock RFC product having made his Scotland U20 debut in the final of last year’s World Rugby U20 Trophy in Edinburgh.

Dan Halkon packs down in the engine room, the second-rower having frequently caught the eye across 2024/25 with his work at both the set-piece and in the loose.

Two further Warriors await their opportunity to make an impact from the bench, including Seb Stephen, fresh from making his professional debut for Glasgow Warriors at the Avva Stadium last month.

Ollie McKenna rounds out the Glasgow contingent, continuing an impressive debut campaign in Scotland U20 colours.

All of Scotland U20’s matches in the World Rugby U20 Championship will be broadcast live on RugbyPass TV – click here for more information.

Scotland U20 team to take on England, Payerini Centre, Sunday 29 June, kick-off 2.30pm UK time.

1 Jake Shearer (Glasgow Warriors)
2 Joe Roberts (Glasgow Warriors)
3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby)
4 Bart Godsell (Loughborough University)
5 Dan Halkon (Glasgow Warriors)
6 Charlie Moss (Montpellier)
7 Oliver Duncan (Edinburgh Rugby)
8 Reuben Logan (Northampton Saints)

9 Noah Cowan (Brunel University/Ealing Trailfinders)
10 Matthew Urwin (Glasgow Warriors)
11 Fergus Watson (Glasgow Warriors)
12 Kerr Yule (Glasgow Warriors)
13 Johnny Ventisei (C) (Glasgow Warriors
14 Nairn Moncrieff (Edinburgh Rugby)
15 Jack Brown (Edinburgh Rugby)

Replacements

16 Seb Stephen (Glasgow Warriors)
17 Oliver McKenna (Glasgow Warriors)
18 Jamie Stewart (Edinburgh Rugby)
19 Dylan Cockburn (Melrose)
20 Mark Fyffe (University of Edinburgh)
21 Oliver Finlayson-Russell (University of St Andrews)
22 Hector Patterson (Edinburgh Rugby)
23 Jack Hocking (Edinburgh Rugby)