World Rugby has today unveiled the details for its two flagship U20 competitions with South Africa hosting the World Rugby U20 Championship 2024 and Scotland the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2024.
The two age-grade tournaments are a key part of the international federation’s investment in increasing the competitiveness of global rugby by providing a meaningful pathway to the elite level for talented young players. The showpiece tournaments, first held in 2008, have seen more than 1,550 players go on to make their test debut after playing on this stage, including 32 Rugby World Cup winners.
South Africa hosts back-to-back U20 Championships
The World Rugby U20 Championship 2024 will be played over five match days in the Western Cape regions of Stellenbosch and Cape Town. The world’s best 12 nations have been placed into three pools of four with three-time consecutive winners France placed in Pool A alongside New Zealand, Wales and Spain, who will make their debut after winning the World Rugby U20 Trophy in 2023.
After claiming a bronze medal with a superb defensive and forward display, the Junior Springboks will look to impress again on home soil and face England, Argentina and Fiji in Pool C while 2023 runners-up Ireland, Australia, Georgia and Italy make up Pool B.
The final will be played at Cape Town Stadium on 19 July.
World Rugby U20 Championship 2024 participating teams: Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain and Wales.
Scotland aiming for promotion on home soil
The World Rugby U20 Trophy 2024 switches to the northern hemisphere after a successful event in Kenya in 2023. Played in Scotland over four match days at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh, the 2024 edition will feature eight teams fighting for promotion to the World Rugby U20 Championship 2025.
While five teams are already confirmed, three nations must still qualify via regional competitions in Africa, North America and Oceania. Samoa and Tonga will meet in the Oceania play-off on 8 March in Auckland, New Zealand with the winner joining the U20 Trophy line-up, while Africa will be represented by the U20 Barthés Trophy champion and North America by the winner of a play-off between Canada and USA.
Scotland will hope to make the most of home advantage to claim the title and return to the U20 Championship for the first time since they were relegated in 2019. They have been placed in Pool A with Japan, Hong Kong China and the Oceania qualifier while the Pool B will see U20 Trophy debutants the Netherlands facing Uruguay and qualified teams from Africa and North America.
The World Rugby U20 Trophy 2024 participating teams are: Japan (relegated from the U20 Championship in 2023), Scotland (hosts), Hong Kong China (Asia), Netherlands (Europe), Uruguay (South America) and Africa, North America and Oceania representatives.
World Rugby Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont said: “The U20 pathway is at the heart of our ambition to develop competitiveness globally. Since their inception in 2008, the World Rugby U20 Championship and Trophy have provided exciting opportunities for the future stars of the game to express their talents and develop before reaching test level as well as a compelling spectacle for anyone interested in our game.
“South Africa and Scotland will be fantastic hosts and provide ideal conditions for the 20 best U20 teams in the world to perform and I would like to thank our two member unions for taking up the hosting challenge. I am convinced many of the talented young players featuring in these competitions will leave their mark, not only on these two tournaments but also on international rugby later down the line.”
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said South Africa is looking forward to welcoming back the world’s best young players in the beautiful city of Cape Town: “We have a proud history of successfully staging world-class events and we are extremely proud to be hosting the World Rugby U20 Championship for a second successive year in the Western Cape.
“Despite the challenging weather we experienced at times during last winter’s successful tournament, our enthusiastic rugby supporters truly showed their passion for the game and eagerness to see the world’s best young players in action by turning out in numbers in Stellenbosch and Cape Town.”
Oberholzer said planning for the tournament with World Rugby and key stakeholders are already well-advanced: “We are determined to improve on last year’s event and to present a memorable, world-class tournament that players, match officials and rugby fans – locals and from abroad – will thoroughly enjoy.”
Scottish Rugby’s Performance Director Jim Mallinder said: “Scotland is looking forward to hosting the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2024 in July and welcoming teams from around the world to Edinburgh for what will no doubt be a keenly contested tournament.
“International rugby has been played at Hive Stadium, home of Edinburgh Rugby, since it was finished in 2021 and we believe it will be a great venue for players and fans during the competition.”
WORLD RUGBY U20 CHAMPIONSHIP 2024
29 June-19 July | Danie Craven Stadium, Athlone Stadium, Cape Town Stadium
| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | ||
| France (1) | Ireland (2) | South Africa (3) | ||
| Wales (6) | Australia (5) | England (4) | ||
| New Zealand (7) | Georgia (8) | Argentina (9) | ||
| Spain (12) | Italy (11) | Fiji (10) | ||
Pool matches
- Match day 1: Saturday, 29 June
- Match day 2: Thursday, 4 July
- Match day 3: Tuesday, 9 July
Knockout matches
- Match day 4: Sunday,14 July
- Match day 5 (final and ranking matches): Friday, 19 July
WORLD RUGBY U20 TROPHY 2024
2 -17 July | Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
| Pool A | Pool B | |
| Japan | Uruguay | |
| Scotland | Netherlands | |
| Oceania (Samoa or Tonga) | Africa (U20 Barthés Trophy winner) | |
| Hong Kong China | North America (USA or Canada) | |
Pool matches
- Match day 1: Tuesday, 2 July
- Match day 2: Sunday 7, July
- Match day 3: Friday 12, July
Final and ranking matches
- Match day 4: Wednesday 17th July
Jersey
The Rugby World Cup 1995 was held in South Africa: South Africans take a lot of pride in their rugby team, popularly called ‘The Springsbook.’ As the FIFA World Cup, South Africa was the first African country to host the Rugby World Cup tournament in 1995. The event became more successful as South Africa won the finale against New Zealand. The team was astonishing enough to win the IRB Rugby World Cup two more times in 2007 and again in 2019.
Dance Bloom
Rugby is one of America’s fastest growing sports – Though American football is far more culturally relevant, rugby is growing fast stateside. The sport is particularly popular in Colorado and Utah, where around 32,000 men and 11,000 women are involved in senior-level rugby.