Junior World U20 Championship – 2026

South Africa and France Advance to Final: USA and Uruguay in Relegation Match

South Africa who are favourites to repeat as U20 champions will meet France in the final on Saturday, July 18th. South Africa defeated England 53-37 in the one semi and France narrowly got by NZ 26-22 in the other semi. South Africa had a massive +144 point differential in the pool round and look the class of the tournament. At the other end USA lost to Japan 71-21 in the 13th place semi-final and Uruguay lost to Spain 57-6 in the other 13th place semi. USA and Uruguay will compete for 15th/16th place on Friday July 17th. Traditionally the last place team in the JWC has been relegated to the Tier 2 JWRT and the JWRT winner promoted to the JWC but World Rugby have made changes, increasing JWC to 16 teams and renaming the JWRT as the Challenger series, but they haven’t announced the promotion/relegation scenario. Canada are in the Challenger series and awaiting clarification.

In other placement games it will be NZ v England for 3rd/4th, Scotland v Wales for 5th/6th, Argentina v Australia for 7th/8th, Italy v Ireland for 9th/10th, Georgia v Fiji for 11th/12th and Japan v Spain  for 13th/14th.

An interesting question to ask is how the state of the U20 team predicts the senior performance down the road? You look at the top 5 rankings now at the senior level and four of those teams have won every U20 championship, Ireland is the only outlier, they came 2nd twice. South Africa is the most consistent, they have placed top 3 in 12 of the 15 championships, NZ have the most titles but that was in the early years and have run cold lately with their last title in 2017, France won the two titles before COVID and the one after, then 2nd in 2024 and at least 2nd in 2026.

Team	Champions	Runners-up	Third	Fourth	Top 4
New Zealand	6 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 , 2015, 2017)	2 (2012, 2025)	2 (2014, 2024)	2 (2013, 2018)	12
England	4 (2013, 2014, 2016, 2024)	6 (2008, 2009, 2011,  2015, 2017, 2018)	—N/a	2 (2010, 2023)	12
France	3 (2018, 2019, 2023)	1 (2024)	—N/a	4 (2011, 2015, 2017, 2025)	8
South Africa	2 (2012, 2025)	1 (2014)	9 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2013,  2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023)	1 (2016)	13
Australia	—N/a	2 (2010, 2019)	1 (2011)	1 (2009)	4
Ireland	—N/a	2 (2016, 2023)	—N/a	2 (2014, 2024)	4
Wales	—N/a	1 (2013)	1 (2012)	1 (2008)	3
Argentina	—N/a	—N/a	2 (2016, 2025)	2 (2012, 2019)	4

---

Semi-Finals Set at JWC U20 – South Africa, NZ, England, France Compete for Title

Though most of the rugby world awaits the 1 to 4 semi-finals between South Africa, NZ, England, France on Monday, July 13th. Many in North America will be keeping an eye on the 13th to 16th semi-finals on Sunday, July 12th. In this group are teams that Canada compete against – USA, Uruguay, Spain, Japan. If there is promotion/relegation next year with the U20 Challenger tournament then one of these four teams will drop down. Canada is in the U20 Challenger tournament in October along with Belgium, Hong King China, Brazil, Namibia, Portugal, Romania and Chile. World Rugby hasn’t clarified the promotion/relegation picture yet between the Championship and Challenger series.

Going into the semi-finals, last year’s champion South Africa look to be favourites, they’ve amassed an impressive +144 point differential in the pool stage. The four teams in the semi-finals South Africa (2), NZ (6), England (4), France (3) have won every JWC title since its inception in 2008. At the other end of the spectrum Uruguay have a -197 point differential and USA a -143. It will be Japan v USA and Uruguay v Spain in the 13th semi-finals and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a USA v Uruguay battle for a potential relegation match.

from World Rugby

Semi-finals confirmed at Junior World Championship after thrilling end to pool stage

France will face New Zealand in the first World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 semi-final in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on Monday, 13 July before defending champions South Africa take on England.

• South Africa, New Zealand, England and France top pools to reach semi-finals
• Defending champions South Africa and New Zealand too hot for Wales and Italy
• England hold off late Argentina rally to top Pool C
• France break Australian hearts with narrow win to claim top spot in Pool D
• Hosts Georgia, Fiji and Ireland secure first victories at JWC 2026

The four most successful teams in World Rugby Junior World Championship history will contest the 2026 semi-finals after South Africa, New Zealand, England and France won their respective pool deciders in Georgia on Tuesday.

Defending champions South Africa will face England, who with 13 men held off a late Argentina fight-back to win their Pool C encounter 40-38 in Tbilisi to keep alive their hopes of a fifth title.

France and Australia played out an equally exciting Pool D decider in Kutaisi, captain Lucas Andjisseramatchi scoring twice in the first half as Les Bleuets ran out 34-29 winners, breaking Junior Wallabies’ hearts again just as they had in the 2019 final in Argentina.

New Zealand now await France in the first of the semi-finals on Monday, 13 July (kick-off 18:00 local time, GMT+4) after they defeated Italy 45-15 to top Pool B. New Zealand are bidding to win a seventh title, but first since the tournament was last held in Georgia in 2017.

Argentina, Australia and Wales – beaten 52-33 by South Africa in the Pool A decider – are joined in the fifth place semi-finals by Scotland, who beat Japan 43-32 to pip Italy to second place in Pool B. Ireland, Georgia, Italy and Fiji will compete for ninth to 12th places with Spain, Japan, USA and Uruguay to contest 13th to 16th.

VIEW FIXTURES AND RESULTS >>
VIEW FINAL POOL STANDINGS >>

---

Round One Results: South Africa Looks Ominous – USA, Uruguay, Spain Pummelled

World Rugby expanded the JWC to 16 teams but the Tier 2 countries were pummelled in Round One. Uruguay lost by -97, USA by -64, Spain by -68. Fiji kept is closer at -30 and Japan were respectable in a -17 loss to NZ in a lightning shortened match. The close matches were England v Ireland, Georgia v Wales, Italy v Scotland. Round Two continues on Thursday, match highlights are on the World Rugby YouTube channel.

From World Rugby

Defending champions South Africa set the standard on day one of the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 as Argentina, Scotland, England, New Zealand, Wales, France and Australia also tasted victory in Georgia.

It was an opening day to savour at the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 in Georgia on Saturday as reigning champions South Africa laid down a stunning marker by running in 15 tries against Uruguay.

Argentina, England and Wales were also victorious in Tbilisi with 2025 runners-up New Zealand, Scotland, France and Australia coming out on top in Kutaisi.

POOL A

WALES 25-24 GEORGIA

A sellout crowd at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi featured a star-studded cast list as hosts Georgia went agonisingly close to beating Wales for the first time at U20 level in an enthralling encounter.

The Junior Lelos pushed Richard Whiffin’s men all the way and watching on were some of Georgia’s most high-profile dignitaries, including President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Shalva Gogoladze, Georgia’s Minister of Sport.

Many iconic former players were also in attendance, including Davit Kacharava, who earned a record 122 caps for Georgia and is now the President of the Georgia Rugby Union, along with Mamuka Gorgodze and Ilia Zedginidze.

It was Wales that took control early on with classy tries from Caio James and Rhys Cummings. However, Georgia hit back before half-time with a superb brace from their talismanic number eight Mikheili Shioshvili, the top scorer at last year’s tournament in Italy.

They edged ahead early in the second half through tight-head prop Gabriel Razmadze’s close-range score. Wales lost winger Tom Bowen to a 42nd-minute yellow card but came back strongly through fly-half Carwyn Leggatt Jones’ try.

Georgia, who had Luka Tabatadze sin-binned, set up a tense finale with a penalty try as Bowen saw red for a second yellow card as the hosts were denied a matchwinning score right at the death with Wales holding them up over the line to the dismay of the vocal crowd.

SOUTH AFRICA 104-7 URUGUAY

Consummately professional, ruthlessly efficient and clinical with pretty much every chance that came their way, South Africa enjoyed the perfect start to their title defence.

It was not only the pace and precision of their attacks, but also the physical dominance of Kevin Foote’s side which saw them score more than 100 points for the third time in Junior World Championship history.

The Junior Springboks were crowned champions for the first time in 13 years in Italy last year and at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, the Junior Springboks side purred ominously, scoring an avalanche of tries to suggest it will take a special team to stop them retaining their title.

Uruguay, back on the Junior World Championship stage for the first time in 17 years, simply had no answer to the speed, skill and physicality of a Junior Springboks side who raced into a 50-0 half-time lead.

Rising star Markus Muller opened the scoring, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga and Jayden Brits grabbed doubles while Jordan Steenkamp and Risima Khosa both completed hat-tricks.

Further scores came from Ethan Adams, Cheswill Jooste, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Gert Kemp and a penalty try before Uruguay claimed a last-minute consolation through replacement tight-head prop Sebastian Dalmao Rivero.

POOL B

ITALY 32-38 SCOTLAND

Scotland ran in six tries when beating Italy 36-10 in this year’s U20 Six Nations and they scored six again at AIA Arena in Kutaisi – but this Pool B opener was an altogether closer affair.

Winger Dan Kelly marked his Scotland debut with a delightful opening score on the right flank, collecting his own chip to touch down, while Jake Dalziel and Rory McHaffie also went over.

Italy scored through centre Riccardo Casarin and hooker Valerio Pelli to trail just 19-14 at the break before Scotland pulled clear with further tries from McHaffie, Nairn Moncrieff and Henry Kesterton.

The Azzurrini fought gamely throughout as second-half tries from David Luisato and Nikolaj Varotto – and Mattia Andretti’s crucial last-minute penalty – earned them a well-deserved losing bonus point.

NEW ZEALAND 38-21 JAPAN

Torrential rain, thunderstorms and lightning in Kutaisi forced this Pool B opener at AIA Arena to be suspended in the 68th minute with referee Luke Rogan taking both sets of players off the field as per safety protocols.

It did not restart and in accordance with the tournament rules the score stood as the final result, giving 2025 runners-up New Zealand a hard-fought 38-21 victory.

The fare served up beforehand was credit to the teams who showed impressive skill despite the wet conditions making handling difficult.

A thrilling first half ended with the scores locked at 21-21 as Japan, returning to the Junior World Championship for the first time since 2023, crossed through Kise Sin, Shinnosuke Uchida and Sota Miura.

New Zealand’s first-half tries came from Dane Johnston, Bradley Tocker and Ollie Guerin before scores from Logan Williams, Caleb Woodley and Mika Muliaina edged them clear in the second half before lightning forced the teams off.

POOL C

ARGENTINA 78-14 USA

Argentina showed they could be serious title contenders with a stunning win at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi against a USA team back on the Junior World Championship stage for the first time in 13 years.

Los Pumitas scored a point a minute during the first half to lead 40-0. Their teamwork was matchless, their conviction unshakeable as they racked up six first-half tries with some mesmerising rugby.

Argentina needed just two minutes to open the scoring through second-row Bautista Benavides before the outstanding Federico Serpa Laporte added a second midway through the first half.

The USA weren’t helped by a yellow card for captain Spencer Huntley in the 25th minute and Los Pumitas quickly rammed home their numerical advantage.

Hooker Manuel Cuneo Camargo and captain Tomas Dande touched down before fly-half Serpa ran in a brilliant individual effort and full-back Simon Pfister claimed his first on the stroke of half-time.

Los Pumitas’ class continued to tell after the break as Benjamin Ordiz Yujnovsky went over before Pfister claimed two more tries to complete a hat-trick and Bautista Lescano, Ramon Fernandez and Juan Preumayr also touched down.

The USA got the try their efforts deserved in the final quarter when winger Sialeafuhia Ofa capped an enterprising display by finishing superbly in the left corner and team-mate Dean Holder added a second, with Declan Cadden converting both tries.

ENGLAND 34-27 IRELAND

A significant rivalry has developed between these sides with Ireland having beaten England 31-21 in Bath in the U20 Six Nations en-route to winning a Triple Crown.

They looked set for another victory after two early scores from highly-rated Connacht winger Daniel Ryan put them 12-0 up at Avchala Stadium.

First-half yellow cards for Ireland forwards Ben Blaney and Dylan McNeice proved costly, though, as 24 unanswered points sent England in 24-12 ahead at the break, laying the platform for victory.

Ryan had proved England’s nemesis with a try in February and was quickest off the mark in Tbilisi when touching down in the left corner from Charlie O’Shea’s exquisite cross-field kick.

He scored again soon after with another smart finish on the left edge but Blaney’s yellow proved costly for Ireland quickfire scores from hooker Jimmy Staples from a driving lineout and James Pater saw England hit back.

Hugh Shields converted both tries and added a penalty which left England in command following a second yellow for Ireland, this time for McNeice.

Shortly after half-time, Ryan touched down in clinical fashion again to complete his hat-trick for Ireland but centre Will Knight sidestepped through the Ireland defence for England’s fourth try.

Ireland rallied strongly, though, with tries from Noah Byrne and Jack Deegan, after England lost Seb Kelly to the sin-bin, to secure a losing bonus point.

POOL D

FRANCE 45-15 FIJI

Perennial challengers France are aiming for a fourth World Rugby Junior World Championship title and they showed just why they are rated among the tournament favourites.

Still bubbling from their U20 Six Nations Grand Slam success earlier this year, Cédric Laborde’s men cantered to victory over Fiji in their Pool D opener at AIA Arena.

Les Bleuets were 33-0 up and in total control at the break in Kutaisi in a game that late starting due to an earlier suspension for lightning, courtesy of some thrilling attacking rugby and classic French flair.

Hooker Gabin Garault seized centre stage with a hat-trick of first-half tries and Matheo Frisach and Romeo Bonnard Martin also touched down before the interval.

In the second half, France’s dominance continued as captain Lucas Andjisseramatchi got in on the act with their sixth try from close range before they added a penalty try.

Fiji’s discipline undermined them throughout – they had Setareki Turagacoke, Isikeli Bari Ratu, and Ratu Apenisa Naevo sin-binned – but their spirits never sagged.

Back at the Junior World Championship for the first time since they were relegated in 2024, Fiji responded with tries from Ratu Epeli Roseruvakula and Mosese Tamaniceva Tuvasu Tabuakoto in the final quarter while France’s Alban Portat saw yellow late on.

AUSTRALIA 90-22 SPAIN

For such a proud sporting nation, a maiden Junior World Championship title would do just nicely for Australia – and they got their campaign off to an impressive start.

Runners-up in 2010 and 2019, the Junior Wallabies are aiming to go all the way this time around and they will certainly take encouragement from this 14-try display in Kutaisi.

Australia’s previous highest score in the tournament came courtesy of an 86-0 win against Canada in the 2009 pool stage in Japan.

They surpassed that figure here but could not keep out a spirited Spain outfit who ran in four second-half tries of their own to claim a bonus point in defeat.

Australia’s tries came from Luca Cleverley, Ewald Kruger (two), Eli Langi, Angus Grover, Edwin Langi, Chayse Geros, Tom Robinson, Zach Fittler (two), TJ Talaileva (two), Sam Blank and Charlie Hollyman.

Yet Los Leones U20 showed remarkable bravery to keep fighting and they were richly rewarded in the second half with tries from Ivan Farace, Mauro del Campo and Oriol Marsinyac Garcia (two) to take something out of the game.

---

World Rugby Junior World U20 Championship Kicks Off on Saturday in Georgia

The newly formatted World Rugby U20 Championship (JWC) kicks off this coming Saturday in Georgia. It has been expanded to 16 teams, it includes the 12 from last year, and four new teams, Fiji, USA, Japan, Uruguay. Fiji qualified as the 12th place team in JWC 2024, USA, Japan, Uruguay qualified as the top finishers, 2 to 4, from the 2024 JWRT Tier 2 competition. Scotland won the 2024 JWRT and were already promoted to the JWC in 2025.

Canada are out of the picture, they didn’t qualify for JWRT 2024 as they lost to USA. Canada will enter the World Rugby U20 Challenger Cup being held in Chile in October with teams from Belgium, Hong King China, Brazil, Namibia, Portugal, Romania and Chile. There’s no word yet on how the promotion/relegation works between the Championship and Challenger series. It looks like the games will be available in Canada on TSN or outside of Canada on rugbypass.tv

JWC Pools

Pool A	Pool B	Pool C	Pool D
South Africa	New Zealand	Argentina	France
Wales	Italy	England	Australia
Georgia	Scotland	Ireland	Spain
Uruguay	Japan	United States	Fiji

• 13:00: Italy vs Scotland (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 13:00: Argentina vs United States (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 15:30: New Zealand vs Japan (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 15:30: England vs Ireland (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 18:00: Wales vs Georgia (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 18:00: France vs Fiji (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 20:30: South Africa vs Uruguay (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 20:30: Australia vs Spain (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)

• 13:00: Wales vs Uruguay (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 13:00: France vs Spain (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 15:30: Argentina vs Ireland (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 15:30: Australia vs Fiji (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 18:00: New Zealand vs Scotland (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 18:00: England vs United States (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 20:30: South Africa vs Georgia (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 20:30: Italy vs Japan (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)

• 13:00: New Zealand vs Italy (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 13:00: Ireland vs United States (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 15:30: Scotland vs Japan (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 15:30: Argentina vs England (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 18:00: South Africa vs Wales (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 18:00: France vs Australia (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 20:30: Georgia vs Uruguay (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 20:30: Spain vs Fiji (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)

• 18:00: 14th Seed vs 15th Seed (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 18:00: 6th Seed vs 7th Seed (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 20:30: 13th Seed vs 16th Seed (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 20:30: 5th Seed vs 8th Seed (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)

• 18:00: 10th Seed vs 11th Seed (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 18:00: 2nd Seed vs 3rd Seed (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 20:30: 9th Seed vs 12th Seed (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 20:30: 1st Seed vs 4th Seed (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)

• 18:00: Fifteenth-place play-off (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 18:00: Seventh-place Final (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 20:30: Thirteenth-place play-off (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 20:30: Fifth-place Final (Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi)

• 18:00: Eleventh-place Final (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 18:00: Third-place play-off (Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi)
• 20:30: Ninth-place Final (Aia Arena, Kutaisi)
• 20:30: Tournament Final (Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi)