The IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2010 kicks off in Moscow on Tuesday and as the eight teams begin arriving in the Russian capital the level of excitement is starting to mount.

The Under 20 event - the first IRB fifteen-a-side tournament to be played in the country - has attracted increased interest following the IRB Council's decision on Wednesday to award Rugby World Cup 2013 to the Rugby Union of Russia.

Russian rugby was already riding high after the national side created history by qualifying for their first ever Rugby World Cup by finishing second in the European Nations Cup behind Georgia.

"The excitement is mounting as the Russians feel that it is happening here and now. I have no doubt it will be a success," admitted Howard Thomas, Vice President of the Rugby Union of Russia.

Russia and Zimbabwe are the only newcomers to this Under 20 level of IRB competition among the eight participating teams, which include Italy, Japan, Canada and Uruguay who all played in last year's IRB Junior World Championship.

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The conventional wisdom makes this quartet the front runners, although defending champions Romania should not be underestimated, nor the entertaining Papua New Guinea who are capable of giving any fancied side a real run for their money.

Japan, who hosted the flagship Junior World Championship last year, were the first to arrive in Moscow under their new head coach Yukio Motoki, who is one of the legends of Japanese rugby with 79 caps to his name.

Only four of Japan's twenty-six strong squad - Keita Inagaki, Takumi Mikami, Takehito Namekawa and Kota Yamashita - played in the last year's Championship when Motoki was the assistant coach. The players come from nine Universities across Japan.

Italy can call upon the most experience with 13 members of the squad that beat Japan and Canada to finish 13th in the last year's Championship returning and they should reap the rewards of understanding and consistency, although the loss of wing Giovanbattista Venditti is a blow.

The experience of coach Andrea Cavinato, arguably one of the best known Age Grade coaches in Italian rugby who has previously taken charge of his country's Under 19 and Under 21 sides, should also prove invaluable.

Experienced coaches

Uruguay, winners of the inaugural Junior World Rugby Trophy in 2008, and Romania will also be coached by former internationals in Fernando Silva, who also coached the Uruguayan national side in 2006-07, and Alexandru Achim respectively.

Achim, like his Italian counterpart Cavinato, is also an experienced coach at Age Grade level having previously coached Romania's Under 18s, Under 19s and Under 21s, not to mention the senior national team.

Robin Tarere, who has previously coached Papua New Guinea's national side, guided his country's Under 20s to sixth place in last year's Junior World Rugby Trophy after delighting the crowds with their run everything game plan.

Canada coach Tim Murdy is also no stranger to IRB Age Grade tournaments, having overseen their challenges at the 2008 and 2009 Junior World Championships. However, former Zimbabwe international Brighton Chivandire and Russia's Andrey Cherevichny, like their countries, are new to this level.

The IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy will see 16 matches played across four days at two recognised rugby venues in Moscow, the Slava and Fili stadiums which are home to two of Russia's oldest and most respected clubs.