Top-tier rugby teams will battle it out in Cape Town this weekend as the World Rugby U20 Championship returns to South Africa.
Also read: Get ready: First All Blacks vs. Springboks clash at DHL Stadium
The Junior Springboks will try to improve on their 2023 bronze medal, while France will defend the championship they won in the Mother City.
The tournament starts on Saturday, 29 June at the DHL and Athlone Stadiums. The Danie Craven Stadium will also host some matches.
This year’s championship sees the Junior Boks in Pool C with England, Argentina and Fiji.
France, Wales, New Zealand and Spain are in Pool A and 2023 runners-up Australia, Georgia and Italy are in Pool B.
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‘Last year’s tournament was an unforgettable experience and we’re expecting more of the same this year,’ says SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer.
‘With the recent U20 Rugby Championship, we saw how closely matched the four SANZAAR teams were, and it was the same in the U20 Six Nations, where England emerged victorious.’
‘To host the next generation of superstars next month is a great privilege and we can’t wait to welcome their families, friends and fans to South Africa,’ he adds.
‘The World Rugby U20 Championship plays an important role in the global rugby picture and is key in promoting and growing the game, while we are also excited to unearth the next generation of Springboks.’
The three new legal reforms that have been put in place to improve player welfare and encourage ball in flow and diversity of attacking possibilities will be seen for the first time in the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship.
The championship will feature more law trials, including:
- Scrums will no longer be an option from free kicks
- The crocodile roll has been banned
- Players must attempt to retreat
- Players will no longer be deemed onside when an opponent gets the ball from a kick in open play and sprints five metres
- A simplified red card sanction process approved by the World Rugby Executive Board
Tickets are priced at R35 for children younger than 18 and adults will pay R75. Tickets include an entire match day and three encounters at each venue.
Here are the fixtures:
Saturday, 29 June
DHL Stadium
- 2pm: France v Spain
- 4:30pm: Ireland v Italy
- 7pm: South Africa v Fiji
Athlone Stadium
- 2pm: England v Argentina
- 4:30pm: Australia v Georgia
- 7pm: Wales v New Zealand
Thursday, 4 July
Danie Craven Stadium
- 2pm: Ireland v Georgia
- 4:30pm: France v New Zealand
- 7pm: South Africa v Argentina
Athlone Stadium
- 2pm: Wales v Spain
- 4:30pm: England v Fiji
- 7pm: Australia v Italy
Tuesday, 9 July:
Athlone Stadium
- 2pm: Ireland v Australia
- 4:30pm: France v Wales
- 7pm: South Africa v England
Danie Craven Stadium
- 2pm: Argentina v Fiji
- 4:30pm: Georgia v Italy
- 7pm: New Zealand v Spain
Sunday, 14 July:
Danie Craven Stadium
- 2pm: 10th seed v 11th seed (match 19)
- 4:30pm: 9th seed v 12th seed (match 20)
- 7pm: 6th seed v 7th seed (match 21)
DHL Stadium
- 2pm: 5th seed v 8th seed (match 22)
- 4:30pm: 2nd seed v 3rd seed (semi-final – match 23)
- 7pm: 1st seed v 4th seed (semi-final – match 24)
Friday, 19 July:
Athlone Stadium
- 2pm: Loser Match 19 v Loser Match 20
- 4:30pm: Winner Match 19 v Winner Match 20
- 7pm: Loser Match 21 v Loser Match 22
DHL Stadium
- 2pm: Winner Match 21 v Winner Match 22
- 4:30pm: Loser Match 23 v Loser Match 24 (bronze medal match)
- 7pm: Winner Match 23 v Winner Match 24 (final)
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Picture: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images