49 - 24

What to watch in men’s rugby: Young stars ready to shine at U20 Championship

305 days ago

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 14: France celebrate their victory during the World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 final match between Ireland and France during the Ireland v France World Rugby Under 20 Championship Final on July 14, 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

The race to become World Rugby U20 Championship 2024 winners will get underway in Cape Town this Saturday, and you can watch all the drama unfold on RugbyPass TV.

Featuring the best age-grade talent from around the world, the tournament has proved fertile ground in the past with hundreds of players using it as a springboard to the Test arena.

Over the next three weeks, the top 12 U20 nations will compete in South Africa’s Western Cape to be crowned champions at the final at DHL Stadium on July 19th.

France start the tournament as three-time defending champions and with an opportunity to end it as only the second team, after New Zealand, to win four consecutive titles.

WATCH WORLD RUGBY U20 CHAMPIONSHIP 2024 LIVE HERE

Les Bleuets will face the Junior All Blacks in a blockbuster Pool A encounter next Thursday but before then they will open their campaign against U20 Championship debutants Spain at DHL Stadium on Saturday.

Although his team have dominated the tournament in the last three editions, played between 2018-23 due to the impact of the pandemic, France coach Sébastien Calvet is taking nothing for granted.

Calvet is without several eligible players, for the start of the tournament at least, due to a mixture of their involvement in the Top 14 play-offs and the senior squad, and he has been impressed with what he has seen from video analyses of Spain.

“They’re a nation that plays,” he said this week.

“We need to excel in the fundamentals, dominate in set-pieces, and be robust in the contact phases to gain the upper hand against this team.

“Any lapse in fundamental skills could play into their dynamic style, potentially causing disruptions. We must show them utmost respect and maintain our strength in the basics.”

In the other Pool A match on day one, New Zealand – fresh from their U20 Rugby Championship success – meet Wales at Athlone Sports Stadium.

The clash is a repeat of their pool-stage meeting in Paarl 12 months ago, which the Junior All Blacks won 37-26. That was New Zealand’s eighth victory in 10 U20 Championship matches against the Welsh.

England beat France 45-31 in Pau en route to the 2024 U20 Six Nations Grand Slam and Mark Mapletoft’s side get their Pool C campaign underway against Argentina on day one.

The Six Nations champions will head into the match full of confidence, especially given they have won all three of their U20 Championship meetings with Los Pumitas to date. Argentina finished the tournament a disappointing ninth 12 months ago.

Hosts South Africa and Fiji complete the Pool C line-up and they will enter the tournament in the final match of day one at DHL Stadium.

The Junior Springboks finished second in the inaugural U20 Rugby Championship in Australia last month and will be determined to start their home tournament in style.

South Africa have won both their previous tournament meetings with Fiji by an aggregate score of 140-27, although they have not played each other at the U20 Championship since 2011.

In Pool B, meanwhile, 2023 runners-up Ireland will start their quest for a first world championship against Italy, in the second match at DHL Stadium.

Ireland were grateful to a late Sean Edogbo try as they snuck home against the Azzurrini 23-22 in Cork in February, but they have a good record against Italy in the U20 Championship having won three of the teams’ four tournament meetings.

Australia finished fifth in the 2023 U20 Championship, and like Ireland have never won the tournament despite reaching the final in 2010 and 2019.

Their 2024 campaign begins at Athlone Sports Stadium on Saturday when they take on Georgia, who will head into the tournament with confidence following their warm-up victory against England.

Saturday’s match will be the first U20 Championship meeting between the sides.

You can watch all the action over the next three weeks live and for free via RugbyPass TV, except in Africa, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.

Saturday, June 29th

Pool A

13:00 BST (GMT+1) – France U20 v Spain U20, DHL Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE
18:00 BST – Wales U20 v New Zealand U20, Athlone Sports Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE

Pool B

15:30 BST – Ireland U20 v Italy U20, DHL Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE
15:30 BST – Australia U20 v Georgia U20, Athlone Sports Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE

Pool C

13:00 BST – England U20 v Argentina U20, Athlone Sports Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE
18:00 BST – South Africa U20 v Fiji U20, DHL Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE

Comments

0 Comments

Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Features

LONG READ

James O'Connor, the Lions and the great club v country conundrum

Sabbaticals may provide the silver bullet to one of rugby's greatest issues, the competing interests of club and country.

LONG READ

The Champions' Cup - a paradise lost?

The venerable tournament has lost its way of late so is there any way back for a competition which used to stir emotions like few others?

LONG READ

Fur set to fly as Parisian duo dragged into Top 14 relegation dogfight

While Vannes and Perpignan battle to avoid the drop, Stade Français and Racing 92 are also scrapping for survival.

Comments on RugbyPass

GS 3 minutes ago

James O'Connor, the Lions and the great club v country conundrum

Whilst I dislike what is occurring with the French clubs, they are not the only parties involved in this activity. You can also look to Ireland and its “Project Player” Scheme, or how Scotland picks players with zero background who have never lived in Scotland.

But market forces will dictate where players will end up.

If RA wants to retain these players, then it should offer them remuneration in line with or better than what the French clubs can. The NZRFU should have offered Aki, Lowe, or Fergus Burke a higher salary than what was offered by the likes of Irish Rugby, Sacarens, etc., if it wanted to retain them.

These kids going to France and the aforementioned Kiwi players are attempting to build a career and financial security in a career that can end with one injury. Think about that—one bad injury, and your career is over, so just like anyone, they have to make the smart, informed decision that is right for them and their families.

If the likes of Oz and NZ can’t or are not prepared to match the $$$, so be it - this is the reality of professional rugby, and whilst it turns the international game into a glorified club comp, I’m not sure if there is any solution.

And let’s remember it’s not all negative. This movement of players from Nth to South gives kids like Blair Murray or Taine Plumtree the ability to earn good $$ and experience international rugby, when let’s face it, they would at best be on the fringes of a Super Rugby squad - so it’s not all bad!

1 Go to comments

GabrielArthur 5 minutes ago

Former England star leads Benetton to huge URC result over Lions

Last month, I faced a nightmare scenario when the entire balance of SOL I held in my MetaMask wallet was abruptly transferred to an unknown address. One moment, my funds were secure; the next, they’d vanished without a trace. I frantically reviewed my transaction history, double-checked permissions, and scanned my devices for malware, but found no obvious breach. Panic turned to despair as I realized my savings accumulated through years of cautious investing were gone. Desperate for answers, I contacted MetaMask support, only to be told that their team couldn’t reverse or trace decentralized transactions. They speculated that my wallet had been compromised, possibly via a phishing scam, a malicious dApp, or a leaked recovery phrase, but I couldn’t pinpoint where I’d gone wrong. Feeling helpless, I combed through Reddit threads and crypto forums, where I stumbled upon TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT Website https://trustgeekshackexpert.com/ , a service hailed for its success in reclaiming stolen assets. Though skeptical after all, everything I’d read suggested crypto theft was irreversible I decided to take a leap of faith and submitted my case details, including transaction IDs and wallet addresses. Their team responded within hours, outlining a meticulous plan to trace the stolen SOL across the blockchain and collaborate with exchanges to intercept the funds. Over the next week, TRUST GEEKS HACK EXPERT provided daily updates, revealing how the thief had funneled my SOL through a labyrinth of wallets to obscure its trail. Using advanced blockchain forensics, they identified patterns linking the movement of funds to a known exchange. By working with legal teams and platform security, they flagged the stolen crypto before it could be liquidated. Their expertise and determination were evident as they navigated the complexities of the blockchain, piecing together the puzzle of my stolen assets. Against all odds, their relentless efforts paid off: within 9 days, they recovered 100% of my stolen SOL and safely redirected it to a new, fortified wallet. This experience taught me the importance of vigilance in the crypto space and the value of seeking help from experts when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. I learned that while the decentralized nature of cryptocurrency offers many advantages, it also comes with risks that require constant awareness and proactive measures. Contact service E m a i l: Trustgeekshackexpert[At]fastservice[Dot]com & w h a t's A p p. +1 7 1 9 4 9 2 2 6 9 3

7 Go to comments

JW 7 minutes ago

'Amazing occasion': Ardie Savea on the 'Battle of the Pacific'

It was good (and somewhat relieving) to finally see a full crowd for Moana after weve had decades of fervent support from the Samoan and Tongan communities for the rugby teams, helped by some names of course but you’d like the think the way both teams are playing too.

1 Go to comments

JH 10 minutes ago

Kini Naholo powers Hurricanes to upset win over Brumbies In Canberra

..and most telling. How many Kiwis and Aussies are propping up the Samoan and Tongan sides these days. Even Fiji has some, although compared to those two, they’re relatively light on the poaching.

9 Go to comments

JH 11 minutes ago

Kini Naholo powers Hurricanes to upset win over Brumbies In Canberra

Given how conservative they were last year, to the surprise of many, I’d expect Razor and co to stick with Reece and Clarke. Unfortunately.

9 Go to comments

JH 14 minutes ago

Kini Naholo powers Hurricanes to upset win over Brumbies In Canberra

Think you’ll find MP is set up to poach Kiwi and Aussie born players. That’s why most of their roster is NZers and based in NZ.

Also AB’s one of the most-home grown sides in international rugby, with most of their ‘foreign’ players having come here as kids with their parents. You can’t say the same for the Tongan and Samoan squads these days, which much like MP, are filled with Kiwis and Aussies. So, who is poaching from who. Exactly. You’re welcome.

9 Go to comments

BH 48 minutes ago

Kini Naholo powers Hurricanes to upset win over Brumbies In Canberra

What a douchey comment, but I’ll bite. Pacific Islanders have been coming to New Zealand to live and work to provide for their families for generations. Of course there are players that are going to represent NZ at some point. Unlike some other countries. Meanwhile, how many Kiwis are in the Irish team? A few Saffas walking around in Scotland. How many Africans in the English team? How many New Caledonians and PI players in the French team? Should the Dutch South African players go back to representing Holland? It’s a global sport.

9 Go to comments

BH 53 minutes ago

Highlanders vs Crusaders: Jordan is Cullen-esque, another Test bolter

There is no clear “favourite” team so far this year. The Chiefs, Crusaders, Brumbies, and Reds all have the capability to beat each other, while other teams like the Waratahs, Force and Hurricanes could upset any of them at any point.

Let’s not forget that the Crusaders were absolutely embarrassed by the Chiefs and Moana Pasifika earlier this year and won games they shouldn’t have (Hurricanes and Blues), so they’re not quite as invincible as previous Crusaders outfits. And the Chiefs lost games against the Waratahs and Drua. The Chiefs have the superior bench however and have found their mojo again.

24 Go to comments

BH 56 minutes ago

Highlanders vs Crusaders: Jordan is Cullen-esque, another Test bolter

Finally a level-headed comment from someone other than GP or anyone with “Saders” in their name.

24 Go to comments

BH 59 minutes ago

Highlanders vs Crusaders: Jordan is Cullen-esque, another Test bolter

Oh look it’s Graham Peterson dribbling on and on about the Crusaders again…

24 Go to comments

Flauran Wilz 1 hour ago

Benetton vs Stormers | Squads & Team Sheets | RugbyPass

I don’t know how to say this, but to be honest i will recommend ( wisetechhack ‘at’ gmall ,com ) as expert and reliable hacker because he just recovered my $76, 000 dollars that was missing from my USDT wallet.

0 Go to comments

Cantab 1 hour ago

'We've been searching': Clark Laidlaw's honest reflection after win in Canberra

Acid test for the Canes will come v the Chiefs as they along with the Crusaders have more than one string to their bow and the ability to change patterns of play at will unlike the one dimensional Blues. Certainly have shown the guts to compete but is that enough ???

3 Go to comments

Flauran Wilz 1 hour ago

Benetton vs Stormers | Squads & Team Sheets | RugbyPass

I want to appreciate (wisetechhackⓐ gmail .com) for helping me to recover my lost crypto money from facebook crypto scammers, If you have been scammed before, contact him now for help.

0 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Fred Tuilagi: 'I fell out with rugby after what happened to me at Leicester'

Teary story 👍

2 Go to comments

JW 2 hours ago

'We've been searching': Clark Laidlaw's honest reflection after win in Canberra

It will be a real marker Cantab. Canes are now playing the best footy of any team, much like they had been last year with the likes of Higgins at second five, Love is a step up. Thank god Laidlaw finally heeded the calls to give him time at 10 (though it’s still so strange to me they didn’t see Harkins as a started their instead of 15).

But as we’ve seen with the All Blacks, and the Canes quarter final against the Chiefs, big teams can easily bully an opposition not in the right mindset, causing havoc with the nice fancy running plays teams may be able to use against a ‘normal’ sort of defence. The Canes have only been clicking for a couple of games now and they’ve already be tested heavily, still the timing couldn’t be more perfect for them to find out.

3 Go to comments

Bob Salad II 2 hours ago

'There’s elements of Bristol’s attack that look a lot like Leinster'

Leinster’s attack coupled with Exeter’s defense sounds about right. Kind of.

I’m a Bears fan and can’t believe how they are now - with Bath (H) and Sale (A), looking likely to not secure a top 4 finish after sitting in 2nd for most of the season. Only saving grace is Bath may send a weakened side to AG given they’ve already secured a home play off birth. Glos. On today’s showing at least, probably deserve 4th spot.

1 Go to comments

Flauran Wilz 2 hours ago

England rout Scotland to set up Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider

No matter how calm your partner seems to be, try and know what they can do at your back. Reach to (wisetechhack (at) Gmail com) to help you access phone call, WhatsApp, Facebook, gmail, Instagram etc.

3 Go to comments

Flauran Wilz 2 hours ago

England rout Scotland to set up Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider

I want to appreciate (wisetechhackⓐ gmail ,com) for helping me to recover my lost crypto money from facebook crypto scammers, If you have been scammed before, contact him now for help.

3 Go to comments

Clinton Marshall 2 hours ago

Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

I honestly don’t even know where to begin. I lost access to my wallet and a huge part of my crypto portfolio. I felt hopeless. Every "solution" I found online just led to more dead ends or people trying to scam me again.