Hunter to debut as Scotland U20 welcome Wales

Head Coach Kenny Murray has made four changes to his Scotland U20 side for their 2025 U20 Six Nations fixture against Wales U20 at Hive Stadium on Friday (kick off 7.15pm) – live on BBC iPlayer.

Heriot’s Rugby back Angus Hunter comes in for his competitive debut at outside centre, while the further three changes come in the forwards.

Freddy Douglas, who was named captain against England U20 after Johnny Ventisei’s late withdrawal, will skipper the team once more. Douglas became the first ever player with a senior Scotland cap to play for Scotland U20 in the Kingston Park clash.

There are two changes in the front row as Oliver McKenna and Joe Roberts come back in at loosehead prop and hooker. They are joined by Ollie Blyth-Lafferty who again keeps the tighthead prop berth.

Dan Halkon is joined by Charlie Moss, who comes back in to start having come on from the bench against England, in the second row. An unchanged back row sees Oliver Duncan continue at blindside flanker, Freddy Douglas at openside and Reuben Logan at number 8.

The half-backs are again made up of scrum-half Noah Cowan and stand-off Matthew Urwin. Debutant Hunter is joined in the centres by Kerr Yule on the inside.

Fergus Watson starts on the left wing, and Nairn Moncrieff is again on the opposite side. The team is completed by Jack Brown at full-back.

On the bench, props Jake Shearer and Jamie Stewart, alongside hooker Seb Stephen, are primed to come on in the front row. Lock Bart Godsell and back-row Mark Fyffe, who would also be a debutant should he come on, complete the forward replacements.

Scrum-half Hamish MacArthur and winger Cameron van Wyk, who were both involved against England, are joined in the replacements by stand-off Isaac Coates, who is included in a matchday squad for the first time in this Six Nations.

Murray said: “While we were disappointed with some of our errors against England, there were positives to take from aspects of our game and performance, and we’ve had two weeks to learn from it.

“Again, it’s about playing well for the full game. We’ve had spells in all three games so far where the players have produced what they’re capable of but we’re really focused on delivering an 80-minute performance.

“We had a good away support in Newcastle last time out, which was brilliant for the players. Our two games at Hive Stadium so far have both had excellent atmospheres and the crowd have been right behind us. They play a big part and we want to thank them with a performance they can be proud of on Friday night.”

Scotland U20 team to play Wales U20 on Friday at Hive Stadium (kick off 7.15pm) – live on BBC iPlayer

15. Jack Brown – Edinburgh Rugby
14. Nairn Moncrieff – Edinburgh Rugby
13. Angus Hunter – Heriot’s Rugby
12. Kerr Yule – Glasgow Warriors
11. Fergus Watson – Glasgow Warriors

10. Matthew Urwin – Glasgow Warriors
9. Noah Cowan – Brunel University/Ealing Trailfinders

1. Oliver McKenna – Glasgow Warriors
2. Joe Roberts – Glasgow Warriors
3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty – Edinburgh Rugby
4. Charlie Moss – Montpellier
5. Dan Halkon – Glasgow Warriors
6. Oliver Duncan – Edinburgh Rugby
7. Freddy Douglas – Captain – Edinburgh Rugby
8. Reuben Logan – Northampton Saints

Replacements

16. Seb Stephen – Edinburgh Academical FC
17. Jake Shearer – Glasgow Warriors
18. Jamie Stewart – Edinburgh Rugby
19. Bart Godsell – Loughborough University
20. Mark Fyffe – University of Edinburgh
21. Hamish MacArthur – Edinburgh Rugby
22. Isaac Coates – Edinburgh Rugby
23. Cameron van Wyk – Ayr RFC