Defending champions South Africa were drawn alongside hosts, France, England and the USA for next year's IRB Junior World Championship.
The Championship, which will be held from June 5 to 23, is firmly established as one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the annual international Rugby calendar, showcasing the future stars of rugby and the host nation in a competition that serves up a feast of excitement and highly-competitive matches to a television audience in more than 160 nations.
The 2013 format will feature three venues with each hosting a pool. Stade Henri Desgrange in La Roche-sur-Yon will host Pool A matches.
The Stade de la Rabine in Vannes will host Pool B, while Rugby World Cup 2007 host venue Stade Pascal Laporte in Nantes will host Pool C matches.
The semi-finals and IRB Junior World Championship Final will be played in Vannes. The pools have been set on rankings based on results at the previous championship which was held in Cape Town earlier this year.
2012's runners-up New Zealand, Ireland, Australia and Fiji are in Pool B, while Wales head Pool C which also includes Argentina, Scotland and Samoa.
The Baby Boks will open the tournament on Wednesday, 5 June against the United States in La Roche-sur-Yon. Four days later they face powerful England at the same venue and then end their pool commitments against hosts, France, on June 13.
The 2012 Championship set the benchmark for future hosts to follow with record attendance and broadcast figures, while 35,000 fans saw history being made as South Africa defeated New Zealand to become the first team other than the Baby Blacks to lift the coveted trophy in the five-year history of the event.
France 2013 aims to stamp its own mark on hosting the Championship with the venues set to showcase rugby to the people of northern France, while an inspiration programme will aim to grow participation within the region.
The 2013 Junior World Championship pools are:
Pool A: South Africa, France, England, USA
Pool B: New Zealand, Ireland, Australia, Fiji
Pool C: Wales, Argentina, Scotland, Samoa
Comments
ABlack says...
Kiwis will win this time. This year they are including more ITM and S15 players where as last year they left them all out of contention.
Posted 05:55 06th March 2013
makemehappy says...
At last - wales aren't in NZ's pool!!! I thought the draw was a fix up to now!
Posted 13:13 12th November 2012
ashley71 says...
@ new_j4a
used to be group winners & best runner up qualifies for semi finals...
Posted 08:44 10th November 2012
Ferdie says...
No easy pool that I can see. Limiting to just 12 teams means tough matches right from the start better then eg some of the 50+ point 'warmups' we see at RWC.
Posted 23:27 08th November 2012
new_j4a says...
Pool C looks like an easy route....anyone know how it works?
Posted 21:50 08th November 2012
melkdave says...
Have to say there is no easy pools in the JWC,England ,and NZ will always be challanges,while France,Ireland,Argentina and Wales ,Samoa will all be hoping to nuild on their 2011 showing as will SA
Posted 20:32 08th November 2012