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What to watch in men’s rugby: U20 Trophy kicks off as Championship continues

276 days ago

SUNSHINE COAST, AUSTRALIA - MAY 12: Jurenzo Julius of South Africa scores a try during The Rugby Championship U20 Round 3 match between Argentina and South Africa at Sunshine Coast Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Sunshine Coast, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

We stand at the start of another huge week of international age-grade rugby, and you can watch it all live and for free on RugbyPass TV.

Having watched the World Rugby U20 Championship 2024 get underway in style in Cape Town last weekend, now is the time for the players in the second tier to shine.

The World Rugby U20 Trophy 2024 kicks off at Edinburgh’s Hive Stadium on Tuesday, with hosts Scotland one of eight teams targeting promotion to the U20 Championship over the next fortnight.

On Thursday, meanwhile, the U20 Championship continues in Cape Town and Stellenbosch as the competing nations jostle for a place in the semi-finals.

The second round of the U20 Trophy pool stage then follows on Sunday.

U20 Trophy set for kick-off

Eight teams have gathered on the U20 Trophy start line in Edinburgh with their eyes set firmly on promotion to next year’s U20 Championship.

Hive Stadium will host 16 matches over the next two weeks as those eight nations are whittled down to one winner, and you can watch all the action with RugbyPass TV.

Scotland will hope home comforts can help them take the step back to the top tier of men’s age-grade international rugby at the second time of asking.

Last year’s tournament in Nairobi was their first campaign at this level, having been relegated from the U20 Championship in 2019. Uruguay put paid to their hopes of an instant return, running out 37-26 victors in the teams’ final pool-stage match 12 months ago.

Scotland overcame Samoa 83-10 to win the third-place play-off, and they will begin their quest for promotion against the same opposition in Pool A on Tuesday (kick-off 14:30 BST).

Kenneth Murray’s team, who finished bottom of the 2024 U20 Six Nations standings, then face Hong Kong China next Sunday (kick-off 14:30 BST) and finish their pool-stage campaign against Japan five days later (kick-off 19:45 BST).

Japan lost all five matches during the 2023 U20 Championship, losing their place at the top table with a 45-27 defeat to Italy.

In Pool B, Scotland’s 2023 conquerors Uruguay get their campaign underway against Kenya in the second match of day one (kick-off 14:30 BST).

Los Teritos had their promotion hopes extinguished by a late Diego Gonzalez Blanco try 12 months ago as Spain ran out 39-32 winners in the final.

Second-place was Uruguay’s best finish since they won the inaugural tournament in Chile in 2008 and they will hope this is the year they end their long wait for a return to the U20 Championship.

Uruguay face USA on Sunday (kick-off 11:45 BST) before completing their pool-stage commitments with a match against tournament debutants the Netherlands a week on Friday (kick-off 17:15 BST).

The Dutch earned their place in Edinburgh by winning the 2023 Rugby Europe U20 Championship and will kick-off their maiden campaign against USA on day one (kick-off 19:45 BST).

The Americans won the U20 Trophy on home soil in 2012 but have only appeared in three of the past seven tournaments and finished a disappointing seventh 12 months ago.

You can find out how they get on in Edinburgh with RugbyPass TV. The U20 Trophy is available to stream live and for free around the world, except in the UK.

Tuesday, July 2nd

11:45 BST (GMT+1) – WATCH DAY ONE LIVE HERE

Sunday, July 7th

11:45 BST – WATCH DAY TWO LIVE HERE

Race for U20 Championship semi-finals heats up

Following a thrilling opening day last Saturday, the U20 Championship continues in Cape Town and Stellenbosch on Thursday.

Defending champions France got their Pool A campaign off to a winning start against debutants Spain and they face a blockbuster encounter with New Zealand on day two.

Barnabe Massa and Geoffrey Malaterre each helped themselves to a brace of tries at DHL Stadium as Les Bleuets ran out 49-12 winners.

New Zealand overcame a spirited Wales performance, with Xavi Taele scoring two of their six tries to help secure a 41-34 win at Athlone Stadium.

However, the U20 Rugby Championship winners have not beaten France since 2017, the last time they claimed the overall title, and lost the teams’ two most recent meetings at this level, in 2018 and 2023.

Only the three pool winners are guaranteed their place in the semi-finals, meaning victory is imperative in Stellenbosch.

Wales will hope to rebound from defeat to New Zealand when they take on Spain in the opening match of day two at Athlone Stadium.

In Pool B, Ireland and Australia put their winning starts to the tournament on the line when they take on Georgia and Italy respectively on Thursday.

Last year’s runners-up Ireland were in imperious form at DHL Stadium last Saturday, Sam Berman helping himself to a hat-trick as Willie Faloon’s side notched eight tries in a 55-15 defeat of Italy.

Australia had a tougher time against the Junior Lelos and trailed between the 16th and 56th minute before five tries in the final 24 minutes gave them a 35-11 victory.

Jack Bracken was the hat-trick hero for three-time champions England in their 40-21 defeat of Argentina on Saturday, and the winger will hope to his tally when they take on Fiji on Thursday.

Fiji lost their opening Pool C match 57-7 to South Africa at DHL Stadium as Jurenzo Julius scored two of the Junior Springboks’ eight tries.

The hosts will hope for more of the same when they take on Los Pumitas in Stellenbosch on Thursday.

South Africa have not lost to Argentina at this level since the 2016 U20 Championship and edged to a 30-28 victory when the teams met in the U20 Rugby Championship in Australia in May. Julius also crossed the whitewash for the Junior Springboks that day.

You can watch all the action from the U20 Championship live and for free via RugbyPass TV, except in Africa, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.

Thursday, June 4th

Pool A

13:00 BST (GMT+1) – Wales v Spain, Athlone Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE
15:30 BST – France v New Zealand, Danie Craven Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE

Pool B

13:00 BST – Ireland v Georgia, Danie Craven Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE
18:00 BST – Australia v Italy, Athlone Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE

Pool C

15:30 BST – England v Fiji, Athlone Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE
18:00 BST – South Africa v Argentina, Danie Craven Stadium – WATCH LIVE HERE

Comments

1 Comment

Nicholas 273 days ago

I have just signed up! I hope I can watch the World Cup rugby U20’s

Join free and tell us what you really think!

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Comments on RugbyPass

JW 12 minutes ago

I do worry seeing the Crusaders get manhandled by Moana Pasifika

Is everyone mistaking the authors championing of a dieing side as being some criticism of NZ rugby or something? Why are all these comments mentioning MP is full of kiwis lol.

The way I read it is that he thinks this is a team of ABs (well it is, true), but it should have very few making the new grade this year. I don’t think he’d have written it any different has it be the Blues that went their and did it, it would still be all about what he thinks as his AB contingent not being strong enough.

19 Go to comments

JW 17 minutes ago

I do worry seeing the Crusaders get manhandled by Moana Pasifika

I agree that Auckland needs, and should have, a second franchise, but I’m not sure Moana is it. I’d like it more locally focused.

Small personal changes have made big difference in each of the games, Pellegrini being a prime example. The Crusaders surely shouldn’t have half the number for ABs theyve had in the past though.

19 Go to comments

JW 20 minutes ago

I do worry seeing the Crusaders get manhandled by Moana Pasifika

Yeah theyre no longer the consistent force they were with Razor and Richie and co right, but that’s pretty normal. The thing for them is that MP did play very very well to win. They’ve looked one of the most dangerous sides from the start and now theyre getting moved around the park by the best in the business (right now).

19 Go to comments

Santiagm 21 minutes ago

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JW 23 minutes ago

I do worry seeing the Crusaders get manhandled by Moana Pasifika

I’d really been turning off Reece as he’s got slower and unable to capitalize on the few fine margins you get in test matches, and while I don’t see him able to play to that same level as a center, I encourage him to try for the same reason I’m liking Tavatavanawai there, they’re getting too slow for the wing.

19 Go to comments

JW 27 minutes ago

I do worry seeing the Crusaders get manhandled by Moana Pasifika

What ott reaction, they author didn’t even comment on them?

The thing I’ve seen most people proud/appreciative/respectful about is that they are getting some sort of supporter base. They are getting the kudos of a team that is being watched and which you want to watch.

I don’t really think it’s got anything to do were they flew from. And they didn’t just beat them, they smashed them.

19 Go to comments

JW 35 minutes ago

I do worry seeing the Crusaders get manhandled by Moana Pasifika

What capital raise is this?

Friday and Saturday nights at ‘the stadium’ were the hottest ticket in town, regardless of how the Hurricanes were performing on the park.

But then everyone got elitist and the South African’s werent good enough opponents, then the Aussies weren’t good enough. The draw kept stuffing the Canes were teams with less points would get to host them instead of having to go to windy Wellington. There was even endless bleating over having to play NZ sides more than everyone else, eventually people were turned off, and those that moaned ended up watching SR TransTasman on their TV instead.

I’m not sure the populace realise what they did till this day, and would happily royal F it with their righteous all over again if they got their chance (they might).

Hamish Bidwell was one of the chief culprits. What a hypocrite.

19 Go to comments

Eleanor Hazel 40 minutes ago

The Olympian taking to Super Rugby like a duck to water

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Eleanor Hazel 40 minutes ago

Rugby World Cup winning coach joins Roc Nation

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1 Go to comments

JW 48 minutes ago

Why NZR's Ineos settlement may be the most important victory they'll enjoy this year

Yep, that’s why I’m downplaying the effects of your perspective. These precarious negotiations are a constant for NZR.

But there is obviously still risk there, I’m just referring to repetitive hyperbole of the world falling apart when all the news was about NZR not going to have a sponsor and Sky no longer valuing rugby as a broadcast option.

16 Go to comments

JW 55 minutes ago

Why NZR's Ineos settlement may be the most important victory they'll enjoy this year

What happened yesterday?

16 Go to comments

JW 58 minutes ago

Why NZR's Ineos settlement may be the most important victory they'll enjoy this year

I wouldn’t think the risk is cash flow, as they have large cash reserves they said all through covid.

I suspect the author has it completely wrong as it pertains to the pool as well, because I can’t see the contracts of players changing year to year like revenue does.

I’d imagine there is an agreed principle to a ‘forecast’ figure of revenue for a cyclical period, and this is what 37% or whatever of is used for player salaries. So it would not change whatever that figure is until the next cycle. Cash flow, as you said, would be the main factor, but as they aren’t paid all it once, they’d not be hindered in this manor I don’t believe. Of all the references I’ve seen of a the player pool agreement, not once have I seen any detail on how the amount is determined.

But yes, that would be a very reasoned look at the consequences, especially compared those I’ve seen in articles on this site. Even with turnonver north of $350 million a year, 20 is still a sizeable chunk. Like this RA’s broadcast deal, they might have smaller sponsorship for a short period to align with everything else, then look to develop the deal further heading into the Lions tour cycle? Perhaps trying to take a deal from low to high like that is unlikely to a long term investor, and NZR want to get a good shortterm deal now so they can capitalize on growth for the Lions (i’m assuming that series has consequences on more than just broadcast deals right).

16 Go to comments

OJohn 1 hour ago

Can Samoa and Tonga ever become contenders when their top talent is skimmed?

And a few Australians too ……

17 Go to comments

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Maro Itoje hits back at England critics over repeated claim

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1 Go to comments

DP 2 hours ago

The raw data that proves Super Rugby Pacific is currently a cut above

Hi all. Thanks for commenting. JD is right: the headline is not mine. My headline was what ended up as the first sentence: “Why is Super Rugby Pacific so exciting this season?”. I am certainly not claiming that teams from one competition are better than the teams from another. This type of discussion is entirely subjective (as the teams do not play each other, and even with the players face each other in their national teams, it is in different systems, conditions, etc.). The season being exciting has nothing to do how well the Wallabies will do against the Lions, or against New Zealand.

My sole purpose here was to try explore quantitatively a ‘qualitative’ impression (that the season is exciting).

On Graham’s point about extreme results skewing the results, and Ed’s comment on removing outliers, this is precisely why I report the median values as well as the averages. The median is not skewed by outliers. If the margins of 5 games are 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 points, the median margin is 5. If there was one blowout and the margins were 3, 4, 5, 8 and 57 points, the median margin is still 5.

19 Go to comments

Head high tackle 2 hours ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Price, venue, Hosting only done by 1 country, Profits going mostly to one country. Done in Perth…Furtherest away from NZ. Nothing works for NZR there Spew. NZR could host a Nth v Sth and make more money.

59 Go to comments

Head high tackle 2 hours ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

That test is on the way into the NH EOYTs. Its got a perfect window and effects no other comp at all. Very very different.

59 Go to comments

Head high tackle 2 hours ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Whats wrong with 4 matches between Aus and NZ SR sides? I think perhaps we just dont need more matches when we already have 5 on that weekend. I see no need for a test match in the middle of a domestic comp and I see far less need for one that only benifits 1 of the two participating sides.