From Will Jordan, George Ford, Handré Pollard, Ardie Savea, Romain Ntamack, Sam Warburton and Pablo Matera to Henry Pollock, Théo Attissogbe, Fraser McReight and Jac Morgan, the list of players who starred in a World Rugby Junior World Championship before going on to represent their country at senior level is endless.
More than 1,100 players have followed that pathway already and the class of 2026 showed in Georgia that the Junior World Championship is where future stars are born by showcasing their potential and suggested they are capable of joining that cohort with test debuts to come as Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 come into focus.
Here, we pick out 10 rising stars who shone brightly in the cities of Tbilisi and Kutaisi over the last month.
Siphosethu Mnebelele (South Africa)
When the Junior Springboks’ Junior World Championship 2025 winning captain Riley Norton was named in South Africa's squad for the Nations Championship, thus making him unavailable for the title defence in Georgia, coach Kevin Foote handed the armband to Mnebelele.
It proved an inspired decision as the Sharks hooker was a hugely instrumental figure in South Africa’s back-to-back title success, which culminated on Saturday when they beat France 16-5 to retain the trophy they won in Italy last year.
Mnebelele starred in the 2025 final win against New Zealand and scored five tries during this year’s pool victories against Uruguay, Georgia and Wales before producing huge performances in the 53-37 semi-final win over England and in the final against Les Bleuets.
The 20-year-old, whose lineout throwing was immaculate throughout the tournament, is a born leader and looks destined for a bright future at the highest level for many years to come.
Lucas Andjisseramatchi (France)
As captain of Les Bleuets, Andjisseramatchi constantly led from the front during this Junior World Championship, continuing where he left off from helping them to win the U20 Six Nations title.
In Georgia, the 20-year-old La Rochelle back-row was at the heart of all France’s best work up front and set a fantastic example for his team-mates to follow.
His tireless work-rate and refusal to take a backwards step helped to lay a platform for Les Bleuets’ talented backline to shine.
Andjisseramatchi played in all five games as Cedric Laborde’s side reached the final, losing to South Africa, and also weighed in with three tries during the tournament which enhanced his reputation even further.
Joe Roberts (Scotland)
The Glasgow Warriors hooker (main picture) impressed hugely as captain during Scotland’s campaign in Georgia, scoring six tries in five appearances.
Roberts was outstanding in the fifth place play-off against Wales, not only for scoring a crucial try but the way his inspirational leadership qualities helped Scotland, down to 13 men in the closing stages, to hold out for a 28-21 win.
That emulated their best-ever finish at a Junior World Championship and Roberts’ performance marked him out as a player to keep a close eye on.
The Aberdeen-born front-row’s trajectory has been impressive, he captained Scotland’s U18 side and received a call-up to train with the U20s while still just 17.
He made his debut in the 2025 U20 Six Nations before playing in all five games during the Junior World Championship 2025 in Italy and then repeating the trick this year.
Simon Pfister (Argentina)
The Los Pumitas star was arguably the most effective attacking full-back of the tournament after topping the scoring charts with eight tries and making nine clean breaks.
He notched a hat-trick in the opening game against USA and followed that with doubles against Ireland and England before scoring again in the seventh place play-off against Australia, demonstrating his ability to score against the best defences.
Argentina were a joy to watch at times in Georgia and Pfister was a key protagonist in their adventurous, often counter-attacking, brand of rugby, and he dovetailed superbly with fly-half Federico Serpa Laporte.
Domestically, the 19-year-old plies his trade for Tucumán Rugby Club in Argentina and a bright future looks assured for the young full-back.
Treyvon Pritchard (Australia)
Universally regarded as one of the finest young talents in Australian rugby, Pritchard enhanced his reputation in Georgia before being cruelly sidelined by a serious injury.
The Queensland Reds starlet featured in the Junior Wallabies’ first four games of the tournament but was struck down in the fifth place semi-final defeat to Wales in Tbilisi.
He was hurt in a tackle early on in the match which resulted in a broken right fibular and a syndesmosis injury before he headed home to undergo surgery.
Nevertheless, Pritchard did enough in four appearances to suggest the hype surrounding him is justified, impressively hugely at centre and full-back in addition to scoring two tries.
Cohen Norrie (New Zealand)
The talented, versatile Blues fly-half scored three tries in Georgia and was a constant threat with his artful handling, strong running and clever kicking game.
Norrie came off the bench in the opening win over Japan and then played a pivotal role at full-back when New Zealand beat Scotland in their next match when he scored a fine brace.
Norrie was then deployed at fly-half in New Zealand’s final pool game, a 45-15 victory over Italy which saw him touch down again.
He was prominent again in the semi-final defeat to France and third place play-off victory over England, orchestrating proceedings from the middle of the park with skill and authority.
Gabin Garault (France)
Garault was up there with Mnebelele as the best hooker in the Junior World Championship after a number of stellar displays for Les Bleuets in Georgia.
At the end of the pool stage, the La Rochelle man had recorded three jackals, 26 effective tackles, and a 90 per cent lineout-throw success rate.
But it was his ability to sniff out a try which really stood out and confirmed his rich potential – he touched down no less than six times.
The 20-year-old scored four tries during the pool stage and then weighed in with a crucial double in France’s dramatic semi-final victory over New Zealand.
Yaqeen Ahmed (South Africa)
After Vusi Moyo was also called into Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks squad, making his debut against Wales on the day the Junior Springboks retained their Junior World Championship title in Georgia, it created an opening for Ahmed at fly-half.
The Stormers man did not feature in the first two pool matches but grew into the tournament and certainly came to the fore during the semi-final win over England and title decider against France.
A brave competitor who is not afraid to take on the opposition’s defensive line, his kicking game is a hugely potent weapon and what Ahmed may lack in physicality he more than compensates for in speed, skill and rugby intelligence.
After his performance in the final against France, when he kicked 11 points and also had a try disallowed, much the talk was of how Ahmed is yet another Springbok in the making.
Oriol Marsinyac (Spain)
A centre who can also play back row and caught the eye in last year’s Junior World Championship in Italy, Marsinyac went on to make his senior debut for Spain in the 2026 Rugby Europe Men’s Championship.
The Stade Toulousain man has taken centre stage for Los Leones U20 in Georgia, scoring six tries in five games to underline his talent.
Marsinyac, for all his creative flair, gets stuck in too and he ended the tournament having made an impressive 50 tackles.
He looks well placed to maintain the upward curve which has seen emerge as Spanish rugby’s most promising young talent.
Hugh Shields (England)
A number of England players showed glimpses of the potential which could see them take the step from the Junior World Championship to the test arena.
Northampton second-row Aiden Ainsworth-Cave and captain Connor Treacey, the Bath number eight, certainly fall into that bracket.
But fly-half Shields was arguably England’s stand-out performer in their semi-final defeat to South Africa with a display that suggested he has the talent and drive to progress to the senior side.
The Northampton playmaker scored two tries against the Junior Springboks and also claimed 12 points with the boot in an impressive 22-point individual haul.
He caught the eye again in the third place play-off defeat to New Zealand and will hope to maintain his upward trajectory.
