We take a closer look at the teams in Pool A hoping to be the last one standing when the World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 concludes on 19 July...
England
Best World Rugby U20 Championship finish: Champions (2013, 2014, 2016, 2024)
Last year's World Rugby U20 Championship: Champions
This year's U20 Six Nations: 2nd (W4, D0, L1)
Overview: England are not the most successful team in World Rugby U20 Championship history - that mantle belongs to New Zealand - but they are certainly the most consistent. In their 14 previous campaigns, they have only failed to make the semi-finals twice, and they've turned those 12 semi-finals into an appearance in no fewer than ten finals. Only New Zealand, who have made seven finals since the inaugural tournament in 2008, come close to England's impressive run in the knockouts. Admittedly, England would like to have more silverware for their ten appearances in the final, but their four titles puts them second behind only the Junior All Blacks (6) for the most in history. They are the defending champions after beating France in last year's final as well as an impressive Ireland outfit in the semi-finals.
Coach: Mark Mapletoft
Co-captains: Ben Redshaw and Tom Burrow
Squad: Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, Tom Burrow, Louie Gulley, Kane James, Seb Kelly, Junior Kpoku, Alfie Longstaff, Ralph McEachran, Tye Raymont, Oli Scola, Vilikesa Sela, Olamide Sodeke, Ollie Streeter, George Timmins, Connor Treacey, Kepu Tuipulotu, Sam Williams, Nic Allison, Josh Bellamy, Jack Bracken, Noah Caluori, Ben Coen, Will Knight, Nick Lilley, Archie McParland, Tyler Offiah, Ben Redshaw, Campbell Ridl, Asa Stewart-Harris, Jonny Weimann.
Pool fixtures:
Sunday, 29 June: England U20 v Scotland U20 (Verona, 15:30 local time)
Friday, 4 July: England U20 v South Africa U20 (Rovigo, 18:00 local time)
Wednesday, 9 July: England U20 v Australia U20 (Verona, 18:00 local time)
Australia
Best World Rugby U20 Championship finish: Runners-up (2010, 2019)
Last year's World Rugby U20 Championship: 6th
This year's U20 Rugby Championship: 2nd (W2, D1, L0)
Overview: Australia were strong contenders when the World Rugby U20 Championship first began, finishing fifth in 2008 then making it into the semi-finals in the next three editions. However, thereafter the Australians have struggled to hit the same heights, only making it into the last four on one occasion since. They have twice appeared in the final of the tournament; beaten comfortably by New Zealand in 2010 and suffering an agonising one-point loss to France in 2019. In this year's U20 Rugby Championship in South Africa they went unbeaten, beating the hosts as well as Argentina, and recording a tense draw with New Zealand, who took the title on account of having one more competition point. The Australians therefore come into this tournament in good form and hoping to claim their first World Rugby U20 Championship title.
Coach: Chris Whitaker
Captain: Eamon Doyle
Squad: Finn Baxter, Nathaniel Tiitii, Nick Hill, Edwin Langi, Trevor King, Lotu Vunipola, Will Guilfoyle, Ollie Barrett, Lipina Ata, Ollie Aylmer, Charlie Brosnan, Joe Mangelsdorf, Eamon Doyle, Tom Robinson, Eli Langi, Beau Morrison, Aden Ekanayake, Toby Brial, Hwi Sharples, James Martens, Joey Fowler, Joe Dillon, Boston Fakafanua, Dre Pakeho, Liam Grover, Xavier Rubens, Nicholas Conway, Cooper Watters, Sid Harvey, Shane Wilcox.
Pool fixtures:
Sunday, 29 June: Australia U20 v South Africa U20 (Calvisano, 15:30 local time)
Friday, 4 July: Australia U20 v Scotland U20 (Viadana, 15:30 local time)
Wednesday, 9 July: England U20 v Australia U20 (Verona, 18:00 local time)
South Africa
Best World Rugby U20 Championship finish: Champions (2012)
Last year's World Rugby U20 Championship: 7th
This year's U20 Rugby Championship: 3rd (W1, D0, L2)
Overview: South Africa have the same record as England when it comes to making the semi-finals; they, too, have been to 12 of the 14 to have taken place. However, from there the two path diverge, as while England have made 10 finals, South Africa have made two. They were champions on home soil in 2012 with a host of future World Cup winners in the squad such as Handre Pollard, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Steven Kitshoff, but lost the 2014 final to an England side captained by current British and Irish Lions skipper Maro Itoje. It is not the kind of return that befits a country with such strong rugby roots, and the current crop will be particularly interested in making up for the disappointing seventh-place finish in South Africa last year - as well as their U20 Rugby Championship campaign this year which yielded a solitary victory.
Coach: Kevin Foote
Captain: Riley Norton
Squad: Jean Erasmus, Phiwayinkosi “Rambo” Kubheka, Herman Lubbe, Simphiwe Ngobese, Oliver Reid, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Jaundré Schoeman, Jaco Grobbelaar, Riley Norton, JJ Theron, Morné Venter, Thando Biyela, Bathobele Hlekani, Wandile Mlaba, Xola Nyali, Matt Romao, Stephanus Linde, Ceano Everson, Haashim Pead, Erich Visser, Vusi Moyo, Ian van der Merwe, Albie Bester, Gino Cupido, Demitre Erasmus, Dominic Malgas, Cheswill Jooste, Gilermo Mentoe, Siya Ndlozi, Jaco Williams.
Pool fixtures:
Sunday, 29 June: Australia U20 v South Africa U20 (Calvisano, 15:30 local time)
Friday, 4 July: England U20 v South Africa U20 (Rovigo, 18:00 local time)
Wednesday, 9 July: South Africa U20 v Scotland U20 (Calvisano, 15:30 local time)
Scotland
Best World Rugby U20 Championship finish: 5th (2017)
Last year's World Rugby U20 Championship: Did not compete
This year's World Rugby U20 Six Nations: 5th (W1, D0, L4)
Overview: Scotland have returned to the top table of U20 rugby for the first time since 2019. The Scots finished 12th that year and were thereafter relegated to the U20 Trophy. Sporting disruption due to the Covid pandemic ensured there have been two World Rugby U20 Championships since then, and at the second time of asking they were able to win promotion back to the World Rugby U20 Championship. What they find in front of them, unfortunately, is one of the toughest pools in history - but they will be out to prove they can mix it with the best. They started this year's U20 Six Nations without the results to show for their hard work, but ended it with a victory against Wales and a slender 45-40 loss to eventual champions France in what was a thrilling finale to the tournament.
Coach: Kenny Murray
Co-captains: Freddy Douglas and Johnny Ventisei
Squad: Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Dylan Cockburn, Freddy Douglas, Oliver Duncan, Oliver Finlayson-Russell, Mark Fyffe, Bart Godsell, Dan Halkon, Reuben Logan, Oliver McKenna, Charlie Moss, Will Pearce, Joe Roberts, Jake Shearer, Seb Stephen, Jamie Stewart, Ben White, Jack Brown, Isaac Coates, Noah Cowan, Jed Findlay, Jack Hocking, Angus Hunter, Nairn Moncrieff, Hector Patterson, Matthew Urwin, Cameron van Wyk, Johnny Ventisei, Fergus Watson, Kerr Yule.
Pool fixtures:
Sunday, 29 June: England U20 v Scotland U20 (Verona, 15:30 local time)
Friday, 4 July: Australia U20 v Scotland U20 (Viadana, 15:30 local time)
Wednesday, 9 July: South Africa U20 v Scotland U20 (Calvisano, 15:30 local time)
Watch the World Rugby U20 Championship on RugbyPass TV by clicking here.
