FORMER Trowbridge Rugby player Ed Scragg has been named in Wales' U20 World Rugby Championship squad ahead of the tournament in Argentina next month.

Scragg, who is originally from Westbury, qualifies to play for Wales through his BLANK and admitted the opportunity to play at a World Championships was something he never thought would happen.

The 18-year-old forward is currently studying sports management at Cardiff Metropolitan University and plays rugby for Dragons’ U23 team as a lock.

Despite being told by a coach at his club that a call up was unlikely this time around, Scragg continued to apply himself and represented his country at the recent U20 Six Nations where he impressed enough to be given a chance in Argentina.

Describing his emotions upon hearing the news, Scragg said: “It did take a while to sink in because it was something that I never thought would happen and I never even gave it much thought.

“But it’s a proud moment for me because I didn’t think it would happen this year – I was aiming for next year.

“I’m with Dragons rugby at the moment and, at the start of the year, the academy manager there told me that I wouldn’t make Wales U20 this year as the progress I would need to make would be too much, but I proved him wrong and I’m quite happy about that.

“I don’t think playing at full international level is realistic just yet.

“The level of senior rugby compared to U20 rugby is completely different, it’s a different game.

“I can dream, but I don’t think it’s realistic.”

Wales are in Pool A and begin their tournament against hosts Argentina on June 4 at the Racecourse Stadium in Rosario.

Scragg’s team then take on France four days later before facing Fiji in Santa Fe on June 12.

The 18-year-old has highlighted topping the Pool as his nations primary aim and says the entire group believes going deep into the tournament is a real possibility.

He said: “Our ambition going into this tournament is to top our pool.

“We’ve got Argentina, Fiji and France in there with us and we’ve already played France this year in the six nations.

“They were our first game, which we lost, and I think the occasion got the better of us.

“It was quite an intimidating atmosphere with a massive crowd – it felt quite hostile – but I think we can top our pool and just see where we go from there.

“The coaches believe we have the quality to place quite high, but we’re just going to take each game as it comes and see what happens.”