The ‘big four’ through to World Championship semi-finals as defending champions to face England in Nations Championship ‘rematch’

South Africa, New Zealand, England and France have all topped their pools to reach the Junior World Championship semi-finals.

Defending champions South Africa proved too powerful for Wales in the final round of pool matches, while England and France narrowly beat Argentina and Australia, and New Zealand cast aside Italy. Meanwhile, hosts Georgia, Fiji and Ireland each secured their first victories in the competition.

The big four meet in the Championship semi-finals

After winning their respective pool deciders in Georgia on Tuesday, the four most successful U20s teams in World Rugby Junior World Championship history will contest the 2026 semi-finals next Monday.

Defending champions South Africa will face England, while France will face New Zealand, in a repeat of the senior matches from the opening round of the Nations Championship last weekend.

England will be aiming for their fifth world title after holding off a late Argentinian fightback to win their Pool C encounter 40-38 in Tbilisi, despite being reduced to 13 men.

South Africa also beat Wales 52-33 in the Pool A decider at the Avchala Stadium and will look to replicate the success of their senior team by comfortably beating England in the semi-finals.

France broke the Junior Wallabies’ hearts again, just as they had in the 2019 final in Argentina, running out 34-29 winners in the equally exciting Pool D decider in Kutaisi.

New Zealand now await France in the first of the semi-finals, after they defeated Italy 45-15 to top Pool B, and are bidding to win a seventh title, having not done so since the tournament was last held in Georgia in 2017.

Argentina, Australia and Wales are joined in the fifth-place semi-finals by Scotland, who beat Japan 43-32 to pip Italy to second place in Pool B. Ireland, Georgia, Italy and Fiji will compete for ninth to 12th places, with Spain, Japan, USA and Uruguay to contest 13th to 16th.

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Semi-finals schedule

Sunday, July 12

13th-place semi-finals

Japan U20 v USA U20 – AIA Arena, Kutaisi (18:00 local / 15:00 BST)
Spain U20 v Uruguay U20 – AIA Arena, Kutaisi (20:30 local / 17:30 BST)

Fifth-place semi-finals

Argentina U20 v Scotland U20 – Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi (18:00 local / 15:00 BST)
Australia U20 v Wales U20 – Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi (20:30 local / 17:30 BST)

Monday, July 13

Ninth-place semi-finals

Georgia U20 v Italy U20 – AIA Arena, Kutaisi (18:00 local / 15:00 BST)
Ireland U20 v Fiji U20 – AIA Arena, Kutaisi (20:30 local / 17:30 BST)

Championship semi-finals

France U20 v New Zealand U20 – Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi (18:00 local / 15:00 BST)
South Africa U20 v England U20 – Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi (20:30 local / 17:30 BST)

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