World Rugby Under 20 Challenger Cup round one review

The 2026 World Rugby U20 Challenger is underway, and the Chilean hosts have kicked off in style with an 83-19 win over Hong Kong China. Canada and Romania also produced fine performances to beat Namibia and Brazil, while Belgium stunned Portugal in Pool B.

Romania 27-26 Brazil

Romania and Brazil opened the World Rugby U20 Challenger with an entertaining contest that ended in a 27-26 win for the Eastern European side, despite the Curumins having led 16-15 at half-time.

In the opening 40 minutes, both sides scored two tries each – Daniel Caetano and Túlio Oliveira for Brazil and Edward Br??nean and Alexandru Boldor for Romania – but Isac da Silva’s two successful penalty goals allowed the Curumins to go into the second half with a one-point lead.

Brazil enjoyed the upper hand at the set-piece, but Romania looked dangerous whenever they injected pace into their attack, despite missing a few chances to score.

With little separating the sides, Romania’s persistence ultimately proved decisive in the closing stages.

Romania moved ahead minutes after the restart, only for Brazil to snatch the lead back. The momentum shifted again when Alexandru Boldor struck for his second score, and Antonio Mitrea followed with a conversion and a penalty to put Romania 27-23 ahead in the closing stages. Cauã Tenório still landed a penalty from 40 metres, but the Curumins couldn’t regain the lead before the final whistle.

Fixture

World Rugby Nations Cup

Romania

08:30

6 Nov 26

Tonga

All Stats and Data

Canada 95-6 Namibia

Canada put on quite a performance against Namibia, running in 15 tries to secure a 95-6 victory and start their campaign on the right foot. The result went down as the biggest win in Canadian U20 history, marking a memorable start to the tournament in Santiago, Chile.

Canada took control almost immediately and were already leading 52-6 at half-time. Wingers Briar Barron and Malin Hazl looked fired up as both completed hat-tricks, repeatedly outpacing the opposition’s defence.

MC-Rein van Wyk was Namibia’s sole point scorer of the round, as the fly-half kicked two penalties and tried his best to lift his teammates’ spirits throughout the contest.

Canada kept making every opportunity count and added six more tries before the final whistle. Rogan Moir, Cooper Allen, Porter Gook, Coen Quinn, Liam Kinghorn, Alistair Yeomans, Adam Stander, Eliot Marschall and Ronin Smith each scored a try, while fly-half Joe Kaufmann landed ten of fifteen conversions.

Canada will now face Belgium in the second round, who clinched the biggest upset of Round 1.

Belgium 22-15 Portugal

After years of coming close to beating Portugal at the U20 Men’s Rugby Europe Championship, Belgium have finally claimed victory as the young Diables Noirs defeated their European rivals 22-15.

The score remained unchanged for most of the opening half, as both sides were evenly matched and delivered a physical but disciplined defensive display. However, a major lapse in concentration from Portugal opened the door for Belgium to score first. After a miscued Portuguese cross-kick went out, Stade Rochelais winger Oscar Shortall quickly pounced and sent a pass to Nathan Delwarte, with the scrum-half running unopposed into the in-goal area.

Stunned by the turn of events, Portugal struggled to settle into their game, scoring only three points before heading into half-time.

Belgium extended their lead four minutes into the second half following a superb lineout move finished by captain Thomas Ironside Wickham. Charles Depasse added his second conversion of the match.

Portugal responded through João Pissarra and Rodrigo Socorro to haul themselves back into the contest.

With 12 minutes remaining, Samuel Meksoud put Belgium back in front before Zian Deage added a penalty to establish the decisive seven-point margin.

With the win secured, Belgium will face Canada on October 7, while Portugal will take on Namibia later that same day.

Chile 83-19 Hong Kong China

Under the Friday night lights, the hosts, Chile, were triumphant over Hong Kong China, claiming an 83-19 win and getting their bid to reach the final off to a flying start.

Lock wonderkid Max Schlesinger was the first to bag a try, giving Chile the lead six minutes in, with winger Tomás Queirolo and centre Cristóbal Serrano following next. Jaime Soler added two conversions and one penalty from the tee.

After a tough opening 23 minutes, Hong Kong China finally had their first breakthrough when No. 8 Kai Tiltman powered over the line, giving his team a much-needed confidence boost.

However, it did little to halt Chile’s momentum, as the hosts scored two more converted tries and a penalty to go into the break with a 39-5 lead.

The second half mirrored the first, as Mateo Alcaide crossed for another Chilean try in the 48th minute. A minute later, a storm brought play to a halt for 35 minutes. Upon the restart, the home side struck immediately, with Queirolo crossing for his second try of the match.

Although the Asian visitors managed to collect a second five-pointer from a close-range carry, grounded by Sam Blackburn, the U20 Cóndores continued to entertain the home crowd, adding five further tries before the final whistle. Captain and full-back Marco Alvano scored a brace; Gianfranco de Giorgis, Santiago Wood and Cristóbal Barrera added their names to the try-scorers list, while Hong Kong China’s blindside flanker Fritz Mahn grabbed his side’s third.

Chile and Romania will meet with top spot in Pool A at stake, while Hong Kong China take on Brazil.