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Details confirmed for inaugural The Rugby Championship U20 tournament
By Ned Lester
The Rugby Championship enters a new era in 2024 with the addition of a U20s tournament featuring teams from all four southern rugby giants.
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The competition has been introduced following the growing dominance of northern hemisphere nations at the age grade level. France are not only the reigning world U20 champions but currently enjoy a three-peat streak of world titles with the chance to make that four when the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship kicks off in South Africa on June 29.
SANZAAR on Wednesday confirmed The Rugby Championship U20 tournament will be held 47 days before the world championship and take place on Australia’s Sunshine Coast.
Like The Rugby Championship, the competition will feature southern hemisphere heavyweights Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, with three rounds of competition seeing the teams each play each other once.
The games will be played at the Sunshine Coast Stadium and will see the teams bid for the title of inaugural TRC U20 champions.
“The TRC U20 Championship is an exciting investment and development strategy that will allow for a more defined pathway for younger players into senior and international rugby and provide a springboard into the annual World Rugby U20 Championship that is currently missing,” said SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris.
“This exposure to international matches against top-quality opposition can only benefit the players in terms of experience and adapting to the demands of top-level rugby. The tournament will also provide extra development opportunities for coaches, team management and match officials.
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“The teams will assemble on The Sunshine Coast for three match rounds in May and for rugby fans we are pleased to announce that entry into the tournament at Sunshine Coast Stadium will be free of charge.
“SANZAAR is very much looking forward to what will be a highly competitive tournament and on behalf of SANZAAR I would like to thank the Sunshine Coast Council for its assistance in supporting this wonderful new tournament.”
The Rugby Championship U20 2024 schedule
Thursday, May 2
- New Zealand vs South Africa, 17:00
- Australia vs Argentina, 19:00
Tuesday, May 7
- New Zealand vs Argentina, 17:00
- Australia vs South Africa, 19:00
Sunday, May 12
- South Africa vs Argentina, 13:30
- Australia vs New Zealand, 15:30
The final round of the round-robin competition will see a preview of a Pool C contest at the World Rugby U20 Championship, as South Africa and Argentina have been drawn there alongside the 2024 U20 Six Nations champions England, as well as Fiji.
New Zealand have been drawn in Pool A with reigning world champions France along with Spain and Wales.
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Australia are set to face Ireland, Georgia and Italy in Pool B.