World Rugby U20 Championship

The World Rugby Under 20 Championship (known as the IRB Junior World Championship until 2014) is an international rugby union competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, World Rugby, and is contested by 12 men's junior national teams with an under-20 age requirement. This event replaced the IRB's former age-grade world championships, the Under 19 and Under 21 World Championships.

World Rugby U20 Championship
SportRugby union
Inaugural season2008
Number of teams12
Holders England (2024)
Most titles New Zealand (6 titles)
Websiteworld.rugbyu20
Related competitionWorld Rugby U20 Trophy

The inaugural tournament was held in June 2008, hosted by Wales and with 16 teams participating. Wales was announced as host for the inaugural tournament in November 2007.[1] The number of participating nations was reduced to 12 before the 2010 tournament due to financial reasons.[2]

The U20 Championship is the upper level of the World Rugby tournament structure for under-20 national sides. At the same time that the U20 Championship was launched, World Rugby (then known as the International Rugby Board) also launched a second-level competition, the U20 Trophy, featuring eight teams.

Promotion and relegation between the Trophy and the Championship is in place. The winner of the Trophy will play in next year's Championship, while the last placed team at the Championship will be relegated to the Trophy for the next year.

Tournament results

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Year Host Final Third place match
Winner Score Runner-up 3rd place Score 4th place
2008   Wales  
New Zealand
38–3  
England
 
South Africa
43–18  
Wales
2009   Japan  
New Zealand
44–28  
England
 
South Africa
32–5  
Australia
2010   Argentina  
New Zealand
62–17  
Australia
 
South Africa
27–22  
England
2011   Italy  
New Zealand
33–22  
England
 
Australia
30–17  
France
2012   South Africa  
South Africa
22–16  
New Zealand
 
Wales
25–17  
Argentina
2013   France  
England
23–15  
Wales
 
South Africa
41–34  
New Zealand
2014   New Zealand  
England
21–20  
South Africa
 
New Zealand
45–23  
Ireland
2015   Italy  
New Zealand
21–16  
England
 
South Africa
31–18  
France
2016   England  
England
45–21  
Ireland
 
Argentina
49–19  
South Africa
2017   Georgia  
New Zealand
64–17  
England
 
South Africa
37–15  
France
2018   France  
France
33–25  
England
 
South Africa
40–30  
New Zealand
2019   Argentina  
France
24–23  
Australia
 
South Africa
41–16  
Argentina
Tournament canceled 2020–2022.[3][4][5]
2023   South Africa  
France
50–14  
Ireland
 
South Africa
22–15  
England
2024   South Africa  
England
21–13  
France
 
New Zealand
38–24  
Ireland

Team records

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Team Champions Runners-up Third Fourth Top 4
  New Zealand 6 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017) 1 (2012) 2 (2014, 2024) 2 (2013, 2018) 11
  England 4 (2013, 2014, 2016, 2024) 6 (2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2018) 2 (2010, 2023) 12
  France 3 (2018, 2019, 2023) 1 (2024) 3 (2011, 2015, 2017) 7
  South Africa 1 (2012) 1 (2014) 9 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023) 1 (2016) 12
  Australia 2 (2010, 2019) 1 (2011) 1 (2009) 4
  Ireland 2 (2016, 2023) 2 (2014, 2024) 4
  Wales 1 (2013) 1 (2012) 1 (2008) 3
  Argentina 1 (2016) 2 (2012, 2019) 3

Participating nations

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World Rugby Junior Player of the Year

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Year Name Nation
2008 Luke Braid   New Zealand
2009 Aaron Cruden   New Zealand
2010 Julian Savea   New Zealand
2011 George Ford   England
2012 Jan Serfontein   South Africa
2013 Sam Davies   Wales
2014 Handré Pollard   South Africa
2015 James Chisholm   England
2016 Max Deegan   Ireland
2017 Juarno Augustus   South Africa
2018 Jordan Joseph   France
2019 Juan Pablo Castro   Argentina
Cancelled 2020–2022
2023 Marko Gazzotti   France

References

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  1. ^ UK Sport
  2. ^ "International Rugby Board". Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  3. ^ "World Rugby update on COVID-19 response measures and statement from Sir Bill Beaumont". World Rugby. 21 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Statement on the World Rugby U20 Championship 2021". World Rugby. 3 February 2021. The World Rugby U20 Championship 2021 will not take place this year due to the ongoing impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
  5. ^ "World Rugby U20 Championship and Trophy to return in 2023 – Welsh Rugby Union". 22 February 2022.
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