WALES are going to be a marked team at this summer’s IRB Junior World Championship following their historic RBS 6 Nations triumph, according to assistant coach Geraint Lewis.

A 35-6 defeat of Italy in Colwyn Bay on Friday night saw Wales claim their first ever 6 Nations championship and Grand Slam at under-20 level.

Their next test will be the World Championship in Manchester in June where they have been drawn in Pool A against New Zealand, Ireland and Georgia.

“The boys can go there full of confidence,” said Lewis. “We’re going to be a marked team but that’s what it’s all about.

“We’ve targeted this tournament (6 Nations) to really perform and I’m just happy for the boys that all their hard work has come to fruition, and winning a Grand Slam is something very memorable for them.

“The hardest thing in rugby is to play and they’ve been superb all the way through.

“They’re helping me become a better coach and hopefully I can help them become a better player.

“We’re all developing and it’s just great to get a bit of confidence going forward.”

Also commenting on Wales’ bid for world glory, Owen Watkin, man of the match on Friday, added: “We’re looking forward to it, it’s going to be a big test.

“We’ve got New Zealand in our group and we all love a challenge.

“We’re there to enjoy it and hopefully get a win.”

For now, Wales coach Jason Strange and his players can revel in their Grand Slam success, an achievement secured at Parc Eirias thanks to two tries from Ebbw Vale number eight Harrison Keddie.

“Coming up to Eirias, it has been outstanding,” he said. “I know it’s a cliché to say it’s a 16th man but they are.

“The support they’ve given us this year has been second to none, you can’t fault it at all, thank you to everyone for coming.”

Captain Tom Phillips added: “It’s the sort of thing that when you’re young and training hard you aspire to get to, and it’s a bit surreal at the moment but I’m sure it will sink in.

“We said from the start we’ve been confident in our own ability, but as a team we’ve pushed ourselves to be really humble on and off the field.

“Within ourselves we knew what we were capable of.

“To be fair to Italy, they gave us a tough run in that first half and we had to have a real talking to coming out for that second half.

“I couldn’t be prouder.”