South Africa open World Championship with a century of points while New Zealand match abandoned following lightning strikes
South Africa open World Championship with a century of points while New Zealand match abandoned following lightning strikes
The 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship has begun in Georgia, with South Africa once again taking the headlines with a 104 points to seven victory over Uruguay on Saturday.
The opening round of fixtures saw the under-20s reigning champions take an early lead in Pool A, while Wales secured a narrow victory over the hosts that went right down to the wire.
In Pool B, New Zealand fought off a tough challenge from Japan to win 38-21 in a match that was abandoned in the 68th minute due to lightning. Elsewhere in the Pool, Scotland saw off Italy by 32 points to 38, as the Azzuri kicked a crucial last-minute penalty to earn themselves a well-deserved bonus point.
Pool C started with a North vs South America contest, as Argentina took on the USA in what would turn out to be a very one-sided affair in Tbilisi. Los Pumitas took an early and commanding lead, keeping their opponents scoreless until the final quarter, when the USA finally put two converted tries onto the scoreboard.
Still, it wasn’t enough to dent the 78 points the young Pumas had acquired. Elsewhere, England squeezed past Ireland after a slow start to win 34-27.
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France beat Fiji 45-15, courtesy of some thrilling attacking rugby and classic French flair, with Les Blues scoring 33 unanswered points by the half. Fiji, who were back at the Junior World Championship for the first time since they were relegated in 2024, responded with tries in the final quarter, but it wasn’t enough to alter the result.
Australia lead Pool D, however, putting 90 points past Spain in a dominant performance in Kutaisi. Their 14-try display was only disrupted by three late tries from Los Leones, as they put down a serious marker ahead of the rest of the tournament.
World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 Results
Pool A
South Africa 104 – 7 Uruguay
Wales 25 – 24 Georgia
Pool B
New Zealand 38 – 21 Japan
Italy 32 – 38 Scotland
Pool C
Argentina 78 -14 USA
England 34 – 27 Ireland
Pool D
France 45 – 15 Fiji
Australia 90 – 22 Spain