Canada Defeat Brazil 61-24 to Claim 5th Place in U20 Challenger Cup
Canada finished on a strong note at the U20 Challenger Cup defeating Brazil 61-24 and claiming 5th place. Host Chile won the tournament defeating Belgium. Canada started the tournament with a big win over Namibia but fell to Belgium and Portugal before their final match against Brazil. Canada weren’t far off the pace to win the tournament, small improvements in decision making, discipline, technical skills and execution could have seen them in the final. As far as individual athletism they matched up with any team in the tournament.
Perhaps a bigger question is commitment from the national rugby union to the U20 program. When was the last time Canada hosted a U20 tournament, as far as I remember they never hosted a JWRT tournament. After COVID they hosted an interim tournament but now that the JWRT seems a thing of the past it would be nice to see Rugby Canada bid to host the new U20 Challenger Cup.
from World Rugby
In the fifth-place playoff final, Canada and Brazil delivered an entertaining show, with the North Americans running out 61-24 winners.
With fans still looking for their seats, Canada scored through Chris Rose; the scrum-half threw a brilliant dummy to elude the Brazilian defence before triumphantly grounding the ball.
The Maple Leaf extended their lead twice before the break, thanks to centre Liam Turnbull and winger Malin Hazl. However, Brazil found their rhythm just before half-time, getting their first try of the afternoon through Francisco da Ros, who asserted his physical presence from close range to reach the whitewash.
Believing victory was still possible, the Curumins threw everything into the contest and were rewarded with 10 more points during the first 15 minutes of the second half. Ros claimed a brace, while winger Cauã Tenório slotted a conversion and a penalty, leaving Brazil seven points away from levelling the contest.
However, the Brazilians’ momentum came to a screeching halt. With Canada fixing their set-piece, they added their fourth five-pointer through replacement hooker Porter Gook, who steered a driving maul into the Brazilian in-goal area.
Ronin Smith was next in line, with the utility back producing a stunning run, beating five would-be tacklers before grounding the ball and gifting his side an assailable lead with 18 minutes to go.
Canada dominated the final quarter, adding four more tries against Brazil. Blair Kinghorn bagged a brace, while Brek Ball and Noah Hudson each dotted down.
Although the result was no longer in doubt, Brazil kept fighting and earned a third try when da Ros crossed for the third time in the match.
Canada Name Roster for 5th/6th Place Match vs Brazil at U20 Challenger Cup
It’s Canada’s final match in the tournament to determine 5th or 6th place. Canada started strong in the tournament, demolishing Namibia, then two losses against Portugal and Belgium. Josh du Toit retains his place at hooker from the Portugal match as do loose forwards, Eliot Marschall and Liam Kinghorn. In the backs Jonty Nicholas at #10, Malin Hazl on the wing and the centre pairing of Liam Turnbull and Adam Stander retain their starting spots. Making a return to the starting XV are Chris Rose at scrum half, Noah Hudson on the wing, the Poyser brothers at second row, Luke Prest at fullback, Colin Mitchell at loosehead prop, Eric Rutledge at tighthead, JJ Kinnear at blindside flanker. Joe Kauffman who started at #10 against Namibia is back in the reserves.
The match will be on rugbypass.tv with kickoff at 9am PT on Saturday.
CANADA U20 VS BRAZIL – OCTOBER 17, 2026
1 Colin Mitchell
2 Josh Du Toit
3 Eric Rutledge
4 Seb Poyser
5 Noah Poyser
6 JJ Kinnear
7 Eliot Marschall
8 Liam Kinghorn
9 Chris Rose
10 Jonty Nicholas
11 Noah Hudson
12 Adam Stander
13 (C) Liam Turnbull
14 Malin Hazl
15 Luke Prest
16 Porter Gook
17 Ethan Samuels
18 Ben Koolen
19 Ronin Smith
20 Cole Thompson
21 Brek Ball
22 Koen Schroeder
23 Joe Kaufmann