Author: worldrugby

The dates, pools and match schedule have been confirmed for the expanded 16-team tournament that will be known as the World Rugby Junior World Championship from 2026.

• Tournament expands to 16 teams and debuts under its new name: the World Rugby Junior World Championship
• Match schedule unveiled with new format featuring four pools of four
• Tbilisi and Kutaisi set to host thrilling action across five weekends from 27 June to 18 July
• JWC 2026 final to be played on 18 July at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi
• First international competition to feature the new trial lowering the tackle height

World Rugby has confirmed the sport’s pinnacle annual men’s U20 competition will be rebranded from 2026 as the World Rugby Junior World Championship, an expanded 16-team tournament that builds on the proud legacy of U20 international rugby.

The competition, previously known as the World Rugby U20 Championship, will take place in Georgia from 27 June to 18 July, with five rounds of action across Tbilisi and Kutaisi.

Georgia will host the prestigious tournament for the second time, following a memorable edition in 2017 when New Zealand defeated England 64-17 in the final, a match that featured future All Blacks stars Will Jordan and Caleb Clarke.

For the first time since 2009, the tournament returns to a 16-team format, welcoming Fiji, USA, Japan and Uruguay as the highest ranked sides since the last time the U20 Trophy was played in 2024 alongside the teams that contested the 2025 edition in Italy.

• Pool A: South Africa, Wales, Georgia, Uruguay
• Pool B: New Zealand, Italy, Scotland, Japan
• Pool C: Argentina, England, Ireland, USA
• Pool D: France, Australia, Spain, Fiji

The four pool winners will progress to the semi-finals, while second-placed teams will compete for fifth to eighth place. Third and fourth-placed teams will contest rankings from ninth to 12th and 13th to 16th, respectively, with seeding based on pool-stage competition points.

Kutaisi steps up as a major host, staging two pools and welcoming former champions New Zealand and France to the AIA Arena. Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi will host Pools A and C, featuring defending champions South Africa, former winners England and hosts Georgia.

Finally, the knockout stages will be played across two days per round, culminating in the third-place play-off and final at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi on 18 July.

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: “We are thrilled to unveil the Junior World Championship, a bold new identity for one of our most important competitions. Expanding to 16 teams underlines our ambition to grow the game globally and provide more opportunities for emerging talent to experience world-class rugby.

“Georgia has proven to be an outstanding host in the past, and we look forward to working closely with them again to deliver a truly world-class tournament that celebrates the future of our sport and unearth the next generation of international stars.”

Georgian Rugby Union President Davit Kacharava said: “We are proud and excited to welcome the World Rugby Junior World Championship back to Georgia in its bold new format. Hosting this prestigious competition across Tbilisi and Kutaisi, two vibrant cities, and three fantastic venues, is a privilege for our proud rugby nation. We are ready to showcase the very best young rugby talent and deliver thrilling matches that fans will remember for years to come.”

Innovation in player welfare

The Junior World Championship 2026 will also mark a significant step forward in player welfare, becoming the first international competition to feature a trial of lowering the tackle height. This initiative, designed to enhance safety and reduce head contact, builds on successful trials at community and domestic levels.

Issued by World Rugby

The World Rugby U20 Championship will return to Georgia in 2026 with the prestigious age-grade tournament to expand to 16 teams.

• Georgia to host 16th edition of rugby’s pinnacle age-grade competition
• Tournament expanded from 12 to 16 teams to boost global competitiveness
• Fiji, Japan, Uruguay and USA to complete the line-up

World Rugby has today confirmed that Georgia will host an expanded World Rugby U20 Championship in 2026 with 16 teams to contest the prestigious age-grade tournament.

It will be the second time that Georgia hosts the World Rugby U20 Championship, having done so in 2017 when a New Zealand side featuring current All Blacks Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan beat England 64-17 in the final in Tbilisi.

Georgia finished 10th on home soil after a narrow defeat to Ireland with Bega Saginadze, Akaki Tabutsadze, Tedo Abzhandadze and Tornike Jalagonia among those from that squad to have gone on to play test rugby for the Lelos.

The tournament will again be staged in the cities of Tbilisi and Kutaisi with the dates to be confirmed by World Rugby and the Georgian Rugby Union in due course.

The expansion to 16 teams comes on the back of consultation with national unions as part of a wide-ranging review of men’s age-grade competition structures aimed at increasing the competitiveness of international rugby as part of the pathway to Men’s Rugby World Cup.

This will be the first time since 2009 that 16 teams will take part in the U20 Championship and means that there will be no relegation from the 2025 edition for the team losing the 11th place play-off between Ireland and Spain on Saturday. The 12 participating teams in Italy were advised of this information ahead of the tournament.

The current 12 teams participating in the U20 Championship will be joined in Georgia next year by Fiji as the side relegated from the World Rugby U20 Championship in 2024 and USA, Japan and Uruguay as the sides finishing second, third and fourth in the U20 Trophy in 2024.

Japan last played in the U20 Championship in 2023, but it will be a first appearance in the showpiece tournament for more than 10 years for both Uruguay and USA, who last played in 2009 and 2013 respectively.

The details regarding promotion and relegation for 2027 will be confirmed by World Rugby in due course.

World Rugby Chief of Rugby Competitions, Performance and Development, Nigel Cass said: “We are delighted to bring the World Rugby U20 Championship back to Georgia – a nation with a deep passion for the game and a proven track record of hosting world-class events.

“The return of the tournament to Tbilisi and Kutaisi, now expanded to 16 teams, is a significant step forward in our mission to enhance global competitiveness and provide more young players with the opportunity to shine on the international stage.

“We look forward to working with the Georgian Rugby Union and local authorities to deliver another memorable edition of our pinnacle men’s age-grade tournament. In the meantime, I would like to wish New Zealand and South Africa the very best of luck ahead of tomorrow’s U20 Championship final in Rovigo – a fitting climax to a fantastic 2025 edition.”

Georgian Rugby Union President Davit Kacharava said: This is the second time we have the honour of hosting the World Rugby U20 Championship – an event that holds great significance not only for the development of Georgian rugby but for our country as a whole. The tournament is growing in scale, and in 2026, Georgia will welcome 16 teams instead of 12. We must rise to the challenge and, as we did in 2017, deliver a world-class championship.

“The active support of our national government has been instrumental in this achievement. Their backing was essential to securing hosting rights, and without the guarantees provided by our authorities, this would not have been possible.

“I firmly believe that hosting the U20 Championship will spark a new wave of interest in rugby across Georgia. More young people will be inspired to take up the sport. Aspiring players will have the unique opportunity to witness, firsthand, how the giants of world rugby and the stars of tomorrow perform on the international stage.

“Matches will take place both in Tbilisi and Kutaisi, which will further elevate the popularity of rugby in Georgia. Rugby fans from both Eastern and Western parts of the country will be able to attend the games and be part of this great celebration of the sport.

“I would like to once again congratulate our entire nation and the global rugby community on this remarkable occasion. I extend my sincere thanks to World Rugby for entrusting us with this opportunity, and to our government for standing firmly beside us. My gratitude also goes to every individual who has been involved in making this possible.

“We are now facing a major challenge, and it is our responsibility to meet it with the highest level of preparation and professionalism – not only on the sporting front, but also in terms of operations, marketing, and every other aspect of tournament organisation.

“I am confident that this historic decision, so important for our country and our sport, will be welcomed with celebration across Georgia. In difficult times, sport remains a powerful unifier – a source of hope and joy. Given that sport has been declared a national priority, hosting such a prestigious tournament is both a tremendous honour and a great responsibility.”

The World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 concludes in Italy on Saturday with New Zealand and South Africa to meet in the final at Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo, a repeat of their 2012 showdown at a sold-out Newlands in Cape Town.

The Junior Springboks beat New Zealand 23-15 in the final in Italy to win the World Rugby U20 Championship for the first time in 13 years.

South Africa ended a 13-year wait for a second World Rugby U20 Championship title after beating New Zealand 23-15 in the final of the 2025 edition in the Italian city of Rovigo on Saturday.

It was the first meeting of the two nations in a final since the Junior Springboks’ class of 2012, featuring the likes of future Rugby World Cup winners Handre Pollard, Steven Kitshoff and Pieter-Steph du Toit, ran out 22-16 winners in Cape Town.

A sold-out Stadio Mario Battaglini didn’t have long to wait for the opening try of this title decider, flanker Xola Nyale going over from close range in the third minute only for New Zealand to hit back through Jayden Sa from a lineout move.

New Zealand loose-head prop Sika Uamaki Pole was sent to the sin-bin in the 22nd minute, the yellow upgraded to a 20-minute red by the Foul Play Review Official, the first red card in a final since 2012. South Africa centre Albertus Bester would be carded 10 minutes later, but his remained a yellow card with South Africa only able to add two Vusi Moyo penalties for a 13-5 half-time lead.

An early Rico Simpson penalty cut the deficit after New Zealand were unable to find a way through the South African defence, before the Junior Springboks had a try by Hassiem Pead chalked off by the TMO for holding.

The second try would eventually come, albeit only in the 77th minute when Gilermo Mentoe went over to wrap up victory. There was still time for New Zealand to grab a consolation try by Maloni Kunawave but it was South Africa captain Riley Norton who got to enjoy “the greatest day” of his life and lift the coveted trophy aloft.

While the final may have been a tight affair, the points were certainly not in short supply anywhere else on the final day with more than 100 points alone scored in the previous match in Rovigo between Australia and England.

Argentina scored five second-half tries to come from 14 points down to beat France 38-35 in the second match in Calvisano to match their best-ever finish of third place, achieved in 2016. Hooker Nicolás Cambiasso scored two of them as Los Pumitas avenged their 52-26 loss to France in their Pool B decider.

Australia and England also met for the second time in the tournament and the Junior Wallabies were clearly out for revenge for that loss, racing into a 21-0 lead after 13 minutes of the fifth place play-off. They went in leading 35-14 but there was no let up after the break with Australia running out 68-40 winners, leaving the 2024 champions to post their worst finish since they placed seventh in 2012.

Earlier in the day, Italy and Wales had kicked off proceedings in Rovigo with the seventh place play-off and it was the hosts who ran out 31-23 winners to secure their best-ever finish in the World Rugby U20 Championship. Nelson Casartelli scored two tries with Francesco Braga’s reliable boot contributing 16 points to the Azzurrini cause.

Georgia number eight Mikheili Shioshvili followed up a hat-trick in the Junior Lelos win over Spain with another brace in a 22-7 defeat of Scotland to secure ninth place. Shioshvili’s second try on the hour mark proved to be the only points of the second half.

Spain looked on course for their biggest scalp in the tournament but were denied a famous win when Ireland hooker Henry Walker scored his second try of the game in the 79th minute to snatch a 38-37 victory in the 11th place play-off in Calvisano. Spain had played the final 15 minutes a man down after Daniel Chico Ayo’s red card and came up just short.

The next edition of the World Rugby U20 Championship in 2026 will take place in Georgia and will expand to 16 teams with Fiji, USA, Japan and Uruguay joining the 12 teams from this tournament.

New Zealand and South Africa will meet in a World Rugby U20 Championship final for the first time since 2012 after ending the title hopes of France and Argentina respectively in Italy on Monday.

The World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 final on Saturday in the Italian city of Rovigo will be between New Zealand and South Africa, a repeat of the 2012 title decider involving two sides desperate to end a long wait to be crowned champions again on the global stage.

Fans in the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana were treated to two enthralling semi-finals on Monday, starting with a repeat of the 2024 battle between France and New Zealand which had yielded an incredible 86 points with Les Bleuets running out 55-31 winners in South Africa.

New Zealand raced out to a 14-0 lead but were reeled back in not once but twice in the first half as France made them pay for 28 missed tackles to only trail by five at the break after Fabien Brau-Boirie’s late slice through the defence.

The second half was a much tighter affair, New Zealand’s defence keeping France at bay for the first 20 minutes before two yellow cards in quick succession looked to open the door for Les Bleuets. However, New Zealand did not concede a point while men down and ultimately ran out 34-26 winners to reach a first final since they won the title for a sixth time in 2017.

South Africa’s wait for a second title is even longer, having won the only previous final between New Zealand and the Junior Springboks on home soil at a sold-out Newlands in 2012. They could not have made a better start against Los Pumitas, centre Albie Bester dotting down in the ninth minute before they claimed the restart and burst down field for lively scrum-half Hassiem Pead to finish off the move.

The lead was 28-3 inside 25 minutes with the Junior Springboks threatening to run away with the match, but Argentina dug in and gave themselves hope just before half-time when number eight Agustín Garcia campos Fiszman powered over the line.

Argentina cut the deficit to 11 points when Timoteo Silva went over, but South Africa were in no mood to allow Los Pumitas any closer with Vusi Moyo kicking two penalties before Bester ran clear for his second of the game to seal a 48-24 victory for his side.

The opening game in Viadana was a tight affair with Wales eager to repeat their U20 Six Nations victory over England. Sion Davies’ try gave Wales a 13-12 lead at half-time, but three tries in an eight-minute spell around the hour mark proved decisive as the outgoing champions cantered to a 51-13 victory that guarantees them a top-six finish in 2025.

England will face Australia in that fifth place play-off in Calvisano, having won their pool meeting 36-33 thanks to a late penalty on 9 July. The Junior Wallabies burst out of the blocks with two tries in the first six minutes against tournament hosts Italy in Verona, Aden Ekanayake and Shane Wilcox setting them on the way to a 44-21 win.

Georgia will face Scotland in the ninth place play-off after proving too strong for Spain in the opening match in Verona, number eight Mikheili Shioshvili scoring a hat-trick as the Junior Lelos’ power told in a 43-12 victory.

Scotland, by contrast, left it late to seal a 22-21 victory at Payanini Center with a last-gasp try by replacement prop Jake Shearer giving them the win over Ireland, who had battled back from 17-7 down. Ireland will now face Spain in the 11th play-off.

Issued by World Rugby

The race to the World Rugby U20 Championship 2024 semi-finals took several twists and turns on Thursday as England, Ireland and New Zealand maintained their 100 per cent starts, Argentina and Italy secured famous victories and Wales recorded their first win of the tournament.

Argentina had only beaten South Africa once in 11 attempts at this level before kick-off. However, they ran their hosts incredibly close in Australia in May and started quickly in Thursday’s Stellenbosch downpour.

Los Pumitas, who lost to England on day one, certainly weren’t scared of their opponents and took the lead in the fourth minute when hooker Juan Greising Revol profited from a powerful lineout drive.

South Africa looked stunned and fell further behind in the eighth minute as number eight Juan Pedro Bernasconi powered over in the right corner.

Fly-half Santino Di Lucca missed the conversion to leave the score at 12-0 but Argentina weren’t done there and another rolling maul led to Revol going over again early in the second quarter.

Di Lucca again failed to add the extras and although the Junior Springboks grew into the contest as the half wore on, errors cost them as they struggled to deal both with the physicality of their opponents and the conditions.

It meant Argentina led 17-0 at halftime but having been 21-7 in front at the break at Sunshine Coast Stadium two months ago, only to lose 30-28, they knew they had work to do in the second half.

Crucially it was Los Pumitas who scored next, in the 48th minute, and again it came from a lineout, albeit in very different circumstances to Revol’s first-half tries.

Perhaps evidence of the pressure the Junior Springboks were under, Argentina captain Efrain Elias picked off a Luca Bakkes throw on the hosts’ 5m line and gleefully dove over to score.

Di Lucca added his second conversion of the night but Argentina were pegged back for the first time just four minutes later as Elias’ second-row partner Felipe Bruno Schmidt sacked a South African lineout drive illegally and referee Takehito Namekawa awarded a penalty try.

Namekawa also showed Bruno Schmidt a yellow card, but Los Pumitas managed to see out the next 10 minutes without conceding further while a player light.

And as the rain continued to bucket down on the Danie Craven Stadium pitch, making the ball ever more slippery and harder to control, so the clock continued ticking on South Africa’s hopes of a comeback.

Argentina made sure of victory with a little over 10 minutes remaining as flanker Juan Penoucos charged down Liam Koen and then beat the Junior Springboks fly-half to the bouncing ball to touch down.

Di Lucca added the conversion to put Los Pumitas 31-7 in front and revitalise their hopes of making the semi-finals even after a late yellow card for Felipe Ladesma and the Bathobele Hlekani try that followed.