The World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 gets underway on Saturday in the Georgian cities of Tbilisi and Kutaisi as the 16 best U20 teams kickstart their bid for the title.
The tournament features an expanded 16 teams for the first time since 2009, with Fiji, USA, Japan and Uruguay returning in 2026, and the opening round features eight mouthwatering encounters.
Argentina and USA get proceedings underway at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi at 13:00 local time (GMT+4) before England take on Ireland in the other Pool C encounter. Defending champions South Africa face Uruguay with hosts Georgia taking on Wales in the other Pool A encounter.
Italy and Scotland meet in the first match at AIA Arena in Kutaisi at 13:00 local time before the other Pool B encounter sees New Zealand tackle Japan. The two opening matches in Pool D see France face Fiji and Australia take on Spain.
Pool A: Wales v Georgia 18:00 local time (GMT+4)
Wales have handed a debut to second-row Will Evans in a starting line-up that features 10 players involved in the 2025 edition in Italy.
Led by co-captains Steffan Emanuel and Deian Gwynne, two further players could make their debuts off the bench in flanker Sam Morgan and scrum-half Cai Gealy.
“It’s going to be a great occasion taking on Georgia in their home patch in front of their hostile crowd,” said Wales coach Richard Whiffin.
“We’ve got to put in place a game plan to quieten them down and we know it is going to be a big physical challenge against what is formidable pack, however we feel we have got plenty of weapons can counter-act that.
“They are well coached and play a lot of games and enter the competition having just beaten the Junior All Blacks so they will be battle hardened for us.”
The two sides have only met once previously in Junior World Championship history, with Wales running out 40-21 winners in the 2023 edition in South Africa.
Georgia, bouyed by the 22-19 victory over New Zealand in their final warm-up match, will have a vocal home crowd behind them as captain Luka Narsia hopes to lead them to an opening victory.
“The goal now is to make more history,” said the Junior Lelos captain, who will have Mikheili Shioshvili alongside him in the back row, the number eight having been the tournament's top try-scorer in 2025.
Pool A: South Africa v Uruguay, 20:30 local time (GMT+4)
Experienced prop Rambo Kubheka will lead defending champions South Africa in their Pool A opener against Uruguay with new captain Siphosethu Mnebelele named among the replacements.
Head coach Kevin Foote has opted for a split of five forwards and three backs on the bench as his side look to lay down a marker in their quest to secure back-to-back titles.
“We have picked a team that we believe will do the job for us against Uruguay on Saturday,” said Foote, who stressed that squad rotation will be a key factor during the tournament.
“Competition for places is incredibly high, which is exactly what you want as a coach. We have selected a match-23 that we believe will deliver a good performance. There is a quick turnaround time between matches, so player load management will be crucial for us.”
Uruguay are making only the second appearance in the Junior World Championship after finishing 16th in Japan in 2009 and will also start their squad captain Ignacio Merli on the bench, Manuel Ponte leading the team from the outset.
“Being here in Georgia is very emotional and the spirit of the group is very high,” admitted Merli.
“We are going to take the opportunity to keep improving and enjoy it a lot. What I expect is a group which is going to be very competitive in all of the matches.”
Pool B: Italy v Scotland, 13:00 local time (GMT+4)
Two familiar opponents come together in the opening match of the tournament in Kutaisi with Scotland having run out 36-10 winners when they met in the U20 Six Nations in February.
Scotland co-captain Joe Roberts was among his side's try-scorers in the win in Treviso, as was fly-half Jake Dalziel who – along with Italy captain Riccardo Casarin – were shortlisted for the Player of the Championship accolade.
Italy will be eager to avenge that loss and get their Junior World Championship campaign off to a winning start with coach Andrea Di Giandomenico confident his side will be ready for the challenge posed by Scotland.
“We worked well during the weeks in Italy, and our acclimatisation and the team’s energy here in Kutaisi have been positive," the former Italy women's head coach said.
“Now it is time to take the field and compete. We all expect to replicate that same effectiveness in the match itself. We believe these are the best selections, and – as always – the pitch will provide the answers.”
His Scotland counterpart Fergus Pringle hands number eight Harry Jackaman his first competitive U20 appearance, while Matthew Fick and Daniel Kelly make their first starts.
“The players have worked really hard in the lead up to the Junior World Championship which is the ultimate test in age-grade international rugby, ” said Pringle.
“We know the challenge that lies ahead, and the group are determined to rise to the occasion in what will be a very tough contest against a strong Italian team in game one.”
Pool B: New Zealand v Japan, 15:30 local time (GMT+4)
New Zealand will be hoping that history repeats itself and they lift the Junior World Championship trophy again, just as they did the last time the tournament was held in Georgia in 2017.
That was the last time the most successful team in JWC history were crowned champions and New Zealand field a couple of the All Blacks Sevens stars in Bradley Tocker and Kele Lasaqa, the recently crowned SVNS Rookie of the Year.
“We’ve had a strong preparation here in Georgia and are feeling positive ahead of the first match,” said coach Kane Jury. “Haki and the other leaders in the team have been great and are looking forward to getting the campaign under way.
“We expect a tough first up match against Japan, who we expect to be very well drilled and play a fast paced game, so we’ll need to be at our best.”
Japan return to the Junior World Championship for the first time since 2023 and coach Naoya Okubo insists they are ready to “represent Japan with pride and show the world our Japanese style of play.”
“The team began its journey during our forwards camp back in February where we set ourselves the goal of securing victory over New Zealand in our opening match," said Okubo.
“The players and staff are united in our determination to take on the world as we represent Japan with pride and show the world our Japanese style of play.”
Pool C: Argentina v USA, 14:00 local time (GMT+4)
USA have named captain Spencer Huntley at scrum-half with vice-captain Jayden Williams starting at blindside flanker.
America are back in the tournament following its increase from 12 to 16 teams, with Japan, Fiji and Uruguay joining them.
Head coach Johannes Gericke proudly declared: “We have players who really want to be here and have really invested to be part of this team.
“Therefore, we have the right players for the job. I want to see them face giant rugby nations without hesitation, regrets and with a lot of pride and bravery.”
Argentina are captained by flanker Tomas Dande, who declared: “We’re improving the intensity in our play and we will play to our maximum, so we will try to play our best game.”
Pool C: England v Ireland, 15:30 local time (GMT+4)
England have handed first U20 caps to Hugh Shields, Zac Finch and Alan Poku as the 2024 champions bid to avenge their loss to Ireland in the U20 Six Nations earlier this year.
Ireland ran out 31-21 winners in Bath, outscoring their hosts by four tries to three, en route to finishing second behind champions France. England captain Connor Treacey scored one of his side's tries in the defeat.
However, it is England who have the better record in the head-to-head at a Junior World Championship, winning seven and drawing one of the 10 meetings.
“This fixture marks an important step in our ongoing development as a squad, and it’s brilliant to see players take ownership of their roles with real energy and intent as we begin the Junior World Championship," said England coach Andy Titterell.
“We’re committed to providing the right level of support to help this group grow, continue building strong connections on and off the field, and most importantly, ensuring they enjoy the experience while representing England.
Led by prop Sami Bishti, Ireland will be equally keen to make a strong start to the tournament and signal their own title aspirations after an U20 Six Nations campaign with many positives.
Three of their try-scorers against England will start this encounter at Avchala Stadium in full-back Noah Byrne, winger Daniel Ryan and flanker Josh Neil and will once again proof lead the Irish challenge.
Pool D: France v Fiji, 18:00 local time (GMT+4)
France once again arrive at the Junior World Championship as U20 Six Nations champions, albeit this time on the back of a clean sweep of victories along the way.
Cedric Laborde’s side are in buoyant mood as a result as they prepare to take on Fiji in their opening match at AIA Arena in Kutaisi, a side they have beaten on all five previous occasions in the tournament.
France may not have Joachim Senga Kouo, the U20 Six Nations Player of the Championship, with them in Georgia but they have plenty of threats across the park and are ready for the physicality of their Fijian opponents.
Fiji will be led by co-captains, number eight Isoa Koroinawai and centre Maleli Nauvasi, as they return to the Junior World Championship after a two-year absence.
They arrived in Georgia on the back of playing three matches in South Africa against the hosts, the Junior Lelos and Chile in the U20 International Series last month.
While they suffered a heavy loss to South Africa, they battled hard against Georgia to lose 29-23 before finishing on a high with a 47-31 defeat of Chile.
Pool D: Australia v Spain, 20:30 local time (GMT+4)
Australia coach Chris Whitaker has named Queensland Reds star Treyvon Pritchard at inside-centre for the Junior Wallabies' first meeting with Spain.
Pritchard will start at inside centre as one of several changes from the recent U20 Rugby Championship, including the inclusion of France-based props Lehopoame Leota and Kingbenjamin Swerling-Finaipepehis who are in line to make their debuts.
Australian sevens speedster Wallace Charlie is named on the bench in his first outing with the Junior Wallabies, along with fellow potential debutant Charlie Bird.
Spain are playing in their third Junior World Championship after making their debut in South Africa after making their debut in South Africa in 2024, but are still searching a first pool stage victory.
Los Leones U20 pushed France, Argentina and Wales close in Italy last year and, led by highly-rated centre Marcos Lopez Camano and number eight Marcal Carreras Cuesta, will be eager to secure that maiden pool win in Kutaisi.
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