Prydie – who will be 18 years and 25 days only on Saturday – is replacing Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny and breaks Cardiff player Norman Biggs’ 112-year youngest player record by 24 days.

Lions back-row Ryan Jones is re-instated as captain while Gethin Jenkins, Mike Phillips and Sam Warburton all receive recalls to the starting XV.

Giving way are No.8 Gareth Delve, prop Paul James, scrum-half and veteran flanker Martyn Williams give way for the clash against the Azzurri with both teams searching for their second win of the Championship.

“Tom has been with us for the duration of the campaign, he was one of two youngsters - brought in alongside Kristian Phillips - who we wanted to have a look at and we’ve been impressed with him,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland.

“We heard some good things about him from his region and from the coaches at under 18 level and he has lived up to that, as has Kristian as well.

“We are not sure if Leigh Halfpenny is going to be able to tour this summer and we also need to look at our options for the future and find someone to push the incumbents for the World Cup.

“He is the fastest player in the squad, he can play at full back as well as on the wing and he is not afraid to tackle so we’ll see how he goes.”

Wales team to play Italy: Lee Byrne; Tom Prydie, James Hook, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris, Jonathan Thomas, Sam Warburton, Ryan Jones (captain).

Replacements: Huw Bennett, Paul James, Ian Gough, Gareth Delve, Dwayne Peel, Andrew Bishop, Tom Shanklin