South Africa is set to host the U20 Championship again in 2024, adding more excitement to the upcoming sports line-up in SA.
South Africa (13 February 2024) – World Rugby 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 (Pool C)
- Australia (Pool B)
- England (Pool C)
- Fiji (Pool C)
- France (Pool A)
- Georgia (Pool B)
- Ireland (Pool B)
- Italy (Pool B)
- New Zealand (Pool A)
- South Africa (Pool C)
- Spain (Pool A)
- Wales (Pool A)
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 is 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.”
Pool matches
- Matchday 1: Saturday, 29 June
- Matchday 2: Thursday, 4 July
- Matchday 3: Tuesday, 9 July
Knockout matches
- Matchday 4: Sunday,14 July
- Matchday 5 (final and ranking matches): Friday, 19 July
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