It was an opening day to savour at the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 in Georgia on Saturday as reigning champions South Africa laid down a stunning marker by running in 15 tries against Uruguay.
Argentina, England and Wales were also victorious in Tbilisi with 2025 runners-up New Zealand, Scotland, France and Australia coming out on top in Kutaisi.
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POOL A
WALES 25-24 GEORGIA: Big names see Georgia edged out by Wales in thrilling climax
A sellout crowd at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi featured a star-studded cast list as hosts Georgia went agonisingly close to beating Wales for the first time at U20 level in an enthralling encounter.
The Junior Lelos pushed Richard Whiffin’s men all the way and watching on were some of Georgia’s most high-profile dignitaries, including President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Shalva Gogoladze, Georgia’s Minister of Sport.
Many iconic former players were also in attendance, including Davit Kacharava, who earned a record 122 caps for Georgia and is now the President of the Georgia Rugby Union, along with Mamuka Gorgodze and Ilia Zedginidze.
It was Wales that took control early on with classy tries from Caio James and Rhys Cummings. However, Georgia hit back before half-time with a superb brace from their talismanic number eight Mikheili Shioshvili, the top scorer at last year’s tournament in Italy.
They edged ahead early in the second half through tight-head prop Gabriel Razmadze’s close-range score. Wales lost winger Tom Bowen to a 42nd-minute yellow card but came back strongly through fly-half Carwyn Leggatt Jones’ try.
Georgia, who had Luka Tabatadze sin-binned, set up a tense finale with a penalty try as Bowen saw red for a second yellow card as the hosts were denied a matchwinning score right at the death with Wales holding them up over the line to the dismay of the vocal crowd.
SOUTH AFRICA 104-7 URUGUAY: Champions flex their muscles with stunning statement win over returning Uruguay
Consummately professional, ruthlessly efficient and clinical with pretty much every chance that came their way, South Africa enjoyed the perfect start to their title defence.
It was not only the pace and precision of their attacks, but also the physical dominance of Kevin Foote’s side which saw them score more than 100 points for the third time in Junior World Championship history.
The Junior Springboks were crowned champions for the first time in 13 years in Italy last year and at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, the Junior Springboks side purred ominously, scoring an avalanche of tries to suggest it will take a special team to stop them retaining their title.
Uruguay, back on the Junior World Championship stage for the first time in 17 years, simply had no answer to the speed, skill and physicality of a Junior Springboks side who raced into a 50-0 half-time lead.
Rising star Markus Muller opened the scoring, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga and Jayden Brits grabbed doubles while Jordan Steenkamp and Risima Khosa both completed hat-tricks.
Further scores came from Ethan Adams, Cheswill Jooste, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Gert Kemp and a penalty try before Uruguay claimed a last-minute consolation through replacement tight-head prop Sebastian Dalmao Rivero.
POOL B
ITALY 32-38 SCOTLAND: McHaffie at the double as Scotland edge out Azzurrini in thrilling opener
Scotland ran in six tries when beating Italy 36-10 in this year’s U20 Six Nations and they scored six again at AIA Arena in Kutaisi – but this Pool B opener was an altogether closer affair.
Winger Dan Kelly marked his Scotland debut with a delightful opening score on the right flank, collecting his own chip to touch down, while Jake Dalziel and Rory McHaffie also went over.
Italy scored through centre Riccardo Casarin and hooker Valerio Pelli to trail just 19-14 at the break before Scotland pulled clear with further tries from McHaffie, Nairn Moncrieff and Henry Kesterton.
The Azzurrini fought gamely throughout as second-half tries from David Luisato and Nikolaj Varotto – and Mattia Andretti’s crucial last-minute penalty – earned them a well-deserved losing bonus point.
NEW ZEALAND 38-21 JAPAN: New Zealand edge out Japan as lightning forced match to be abandoned
Torrential rain, thunderstorms and lightning in Kutaisi forced this Pool B opener at AIA Arena to be suspended in the 68th minute with referee Luke Rogan taking both sets of players off the field as per safety protocols.
It did not restart and in accordance with the tournament rules the score stood as the final result, giving 2025 runners-up New Zealand a hard-fought 38-21 victory.
The fare served up beforehand was credit to the teams who showed impressive skill despite the wet conditions making handling difficult.
A thrilling first half ended with the scores locked at 21-21 as Japan, returning to the Junior World Championship for the first time since 2023, crossed through Kise Sin, Shinnosuke Uchida and Sota Miura.
New Zealand’s first-half tries came from Dane Johnston, Bradley Tocker and Ollie Guerin before scores from Logan Williams, Caleb Woodley and Mika Muliaina edged them clear in the second half before lightning forced the teams off.
POOL C
ARGENTINA 78-14 USA: Los Pumitas run amok with 12-try blitz to lay down emphatic marker
Argentina showed they could be serious title contenders with a stunning win at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi against a USA team back on the Junior World Championship stage for the first time in 13 years.
Los Pumitas scored a point a minute during the first half to lead 40-0. Their teamwork was matchless, their conviction unshakeable as they racked up six first-half tries with some mesmerising rugby.
Argentina needed just two minutes to open the scoring through second-row Bautista Benavides before the outstanding Federico Serpa Laporte added a second midway through the first half.
The USA weren't helped by a yellow card for captain Spencer Huntley in the 25th minute and Los Pumitas quickly rammed home their numerical advantage.
Hooker Manuel Cuneo Camargo and captain Tomas Dande touched down before fly-half Serpa ran in a brilliant individual effort and full-back Simon Pfister claimed his first on the stroke of half-time.
Los Pumitas’ class continued to tell after the break as Benjamin Ordiz Yujnovsky went over before Pfister claimed two more tries to complete a hat-trick and Bautista Lescano, Ramon Fernandez and Juan Preumayr also touched down.
The USA got the try their efforts deserved in the final quarter when winger Sialeafuhia Ofa capped an enterprising display by finishing superbly in the left corner and team-mate Dean Holder added a second, with Declan Cadden converting both tries.
ENGLAND 34-27 IRELAND: England recover from sluggish start to edge out Ireland but are pushed all the way
A significant rivalry has developed between these sides with Ireland having beaten England 31-21 in Bath in the U20 Six Nations en-route to winning a Triple Crown.
They looked set for another victory after two early scores from highly-rated Connacht winger Daniel Ryan put them 12-0 up at Avchala Stadium.
First-half yellow cards for Ireland forwards Ben Blaney and Dylan McNeice proved costly, though, as 24 unanswered points sent England in 24-12 ahead at the break, laying the platform for victory.
Ryan had proved England’s nemesis with a try in February and was quickest off the mark in Tbilisi when touching down in the left corner from Charlie O’Shea’s exquisite cross-field kick.
He scored again soon after with another smart finish on the left edge but Blaney's yellow proved costly for Ireland quickfire scores from hooker Jimmy Staples from a driving lineout and James Pater saw England hit back.
Hugh Shields converted both tries and added a penalty which left England in command following a second yellow for Ireland, this time for McNeice.
Shortly after half-time, Ryan touched down in clinical fashion again to complete his hat-trick for Ireland but centre Will Knight sidestepped through the Ireland defence for England’s fourth try.
Ireland rallied strongly, though, with tries from Noah Byrne and Jack Deegan, after England lost Seb Kelly to the sin-bin, to secure a losing bonus point.
POOL D
FRANCE 45-15 FIJI: Les Bleuets flash a title warning after proving too strong for Fiji
Perennial challengers France are aiming for a fourth World Rugby Junior World Championship title and they showed just why they are rated among the tournament favourites.
Still bubbling from their U20 Six Nations Grand Slam success earlier this year, Cédric Laborde’s men cantered to victory over Fiji in their Pool D opener at AIA Arena.
Les Bleuets were 33-0 up and in total control at the break in Kutaisi in a game that late starting due to an earlier suspension for lightning, courtesy of some thrilling attacking rugby and classic French flair.
Hooker Gabin Garault seized centre stage with a hat-trick of first-half tries and Matheo Frisach and Romeo Bonnard Martin also touched down before the interval.
In the second half, France’s dominance continued as captain Lucas Andjisseramatchi got in on the act with their sixth try from close range before they added a penalty try.
Fiji’s discipline undermined them throughout – they had Setareki Turagacoke, Isikeli Bari Ratu, and Ratu Apenisa Naevo sin-binned – but their spirits never sagged.
Back at the Junior World Championship for the first time since they were relegated in 2024, Fiji responded with tries from Ratu Epeli Roseruvakula and Mosese Tamaniceva Tuvasu Tabuakoto in the final quarter while France’s Alban Portat saw yellow late on.
AUSTRALIA 90-22 SPAIN: Junior Wallabies quickest out of the blocks to defeat Spain
For such a proud sporting nation, a maiden Junior World Championship title would do just nicely for Australia – and they got their campaign off to an impressive start.
Runners-up in 2010 and 2019, the Junior Wallabies are aiming to go all the way this time around and they will certainly take encouragement from this 14-try display in Kutaisi.
Australia’s previous highest score in the tournament came courtesy of an 86-0 win against Canada in the 2009 pool stage in Japan.
They surpassed that figure here but could not keep out a spirited Spain outfit who ran in four second-half tries of their own to claim a bonus point in defeat.
Australia’s tries came from Luca Cleverley, Ewald Kruger (two), Eli Langi, Angus Grover, Edwin Langi, Chayse Geros, Tom Robinson, Zach Fittler (two), TJ Talaileva (two), Sam Blank and Charlie Hollyman.
Yet Los Leones U20 showed remarkable bravery to keep fighting and they were richly rewarded in the second half with tries from Ivan Farace, Mauro del Campo and Oriol Marsinyac Garcia (two) to take something out of the game.
