South Africa are the World Rugby U20 Championship winners for the first time since 2012 after deservedly beating New Zealand 23-15 in Rovigo, with Junior Springboks captain Riley Norton calling it “the greatest day of my life”.
South Africa exerted pressure straight from the kick-off, forcing New Zealand to kick the ball out in their own 22. Having been so impressive during their tournament with their incisive back play, this time the Junior Springboks proved they could play more directly, Xola Nyali scoring the game’s first try from a driving maul.
They then produced an incredible defensive set to keep out New Zealand phase after phase. But South Africa were eventually penalised and from the resulting lineout, New Zealand came up with a clever trick play for Jayden Sa to touch down in the corner.
History made 🏆
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 19, 2025
13 years on, South Africa are champions of #WorldRugbyU20s once again 🇿🇦@SAJuniorRugby pic.twitter.com/1qsr7hu04H
Time and space on the ball was rare as the teams cancelled each defensively, combining impressive line speed with dominant tackles.
South Africa edged further ahead with a Vusi Moyo penalty, but they couldn’t capitalise when New Zealand lost Sika Uamaki Pole to a yellow card, upgraded to a 20-minute red.
After Moyo made it 13-5 from the kicking tee, South Africa lost Albertus Bester to a yellow card of their own to even up the numbers and leave the game still in the balance at half-time.
It was New Zealand who started the second half on the front foot, but they had to make do with three points from a Rico Simpson penalty after more heroic South Africa defence.
The gap was down to five points, a one-score game. As the tension rose, errors from both teams began to creep in. But South Africa were beginning to gain dominance in the scrum. Another penalty from Moyo made it 16-8 as the final quarter approached,
From the next dominant scrum, Hassiem Pead appeared to have scored the decisive try, only for the referee to rule it out. Another scrum, another South Africa penalty – but this time Voyo pulled his kick wide, his first miss of the night.
With New Zealand losing a second player to the sin bin, South Africa began to turn the screw in open play too. It was fitting that the decisive try was made by a moment of genius from Pead – arguably the player of the tournament. The scrum-half’s inch-perfect kick ahead was touched down in the corner by Gilermo Mentoe. This time, Voyo made no mistake with his kick, the conversion taking the lead out to more than two scores.
Long wait goes on for New Zealand U20s
There was still time for New Zealand to grab a consolation try through Maloni Kunawave but their wait for a first U20 title since 2017 will go on for at least another year.
“It was a tough game for the boys, a tough pill to swallow,” New Zealand captain Manumaua Letiu said. “South Africa showed us how to dominate in the collisions and we couldn’t get our attack right.
“It’s been an awesome campaign, we’ve built a really strong culture, and to see New Zealand back in the final [for the first time since 2017] makes me proud.”
But the final word must go to South Africa captain Riley Norton, who last year represented his country in the U19 Cricket World Cup.
“I’m quite emotional,” he said. “The amount of work we put in after a tough Rugby Championship, I’m just so proud of the players and the coaching staff. I just can’t put it into words. This has been the greatest month of my life."
Having dazzled out wide for much of the tournament, Norton was quick to praise the team’s basics in the final. “That’s where South Africans get our energy from, our DNA – the scrums, the mauls, the tackles – and Vusi Moyo was so good with the boot.
“We never felt pressure. A bit of nerves, but that’s a good thing. We couldn’t have done it without our fans cheering us on back home. I’m so proud to be South African. This is why we play the game, for moments and days like this.”
Watch all the World Rugby U20 Championship highlights on RugbyPass TV by clicking here.
