The World Rugby Under 20 Championship (known as the IRB Junior World Championship until 2014) is an international rugby union competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, World Rugby, and is contested by 12 men's junior national teams with an under-20 age requirement. This event replaced the IRB's former age-grade world championships, the Under 19 and Under 21 World Championships.
 | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Inaugural season | 2008 |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Holders |  England (2024) |
| Most titles |  New Zealand (6 titles) |
| Website | world.rugbyu20 |
| Related competition | World Rugby U20 Trophy |
The inaugural tournament was held in June 2008, hosted by Wales and with 16 teams participating. Wales was announced as host for the inaugural tournament in November 2007.[1] The number of participating nations was reduced to 12 before the 2010 tournament due to financial reasons.[2]
The U20 Championship is the upper level of the World Rugby tournament structure for under-20 national sides. At the same time that the U20 Championship was launched, World Rugby (then known as the International Rugby Board) also launched a second-level competition, the U20 Trophy, featuring eight teams.
Promotion and relegation between the Trophy and the Championship is in place. The winner of the Trophy will play in next year's Championship, while the last placed team at the Championship will be relegated to the Trophy for the next year.
Tournament results
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Team records
edit| Team | Champions | Runners-up | Third | Fourth | Top 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand
|
6 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017) | 1 (2012) | 2 (2014, 2024) | 2 (2013, 2018) | 11 |
| England
|
4 (2013, 2014, 2016, 2024) | 6 (2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2018) | — | 2 (2010, 2023) | 12 |
 France
|
3 (2018, 2019, 2023) | 1 (2024) | — | 3 (2011, 2015, 2017) | 7 |
 South Africa
|
1 (2012) | 1 (2014) | 9 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023) | 1 (2016) | 12 |
 Australia
|
— | 2 (2010, 2019) | 1 (2011) | 1 (2009) | 4 |
 Ireland
|
— | 2 (2016, 2023) | — | 2 (2014, 2024) | 4 |
 Wales
|
— | 1 (2013) | 1 (2012) | 1 (2008) | 3 |
 Argentina
|
— | — | 1 (2016) | 2 (2012, 2019) | 3 |
Participating nations
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World Rugby Junior Player of the Year
editReferences
edit- ^ UK Sport
- ^ "International Rugby Board". Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
- ^ "World Rugby update on COVID-19 response measures and statement from Sir Bill Beaumont". World Rugby. 21 March 2020.
- ^ "Statement on the World Rugby U20 Championship 2021". World Rugby. 3 February 2021.
The World Rugby U20 Championship 2021 will not take place this year due to the ongoing impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
- ^ "World Rugby U20 Championship and Trophy to return in 2023 – Welsh Rugby Union". 22 February 2022.
