2023 World Rugby U20 Championship

The 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship was the 13th edition of the premier age-grade rugby union competition. The tournament is hosted in South Africa for the second time, previously being held in 2012.[1]

2023 World Rugby U20 Championship
Tournament details
Host South Africa
Venueparl gymnasium
Date24 June – 14 July 2023
Countries12
Teams12
Final positions
Champions France (3rd title)
Runner-up Ireland
Third place South Africa
Fourth place England
Tournament statistics
Matches played30
Tries scored259 (8.63 per match)
Most tries Nicolas Depoortère
Macca Springer
Caleb Tangitau
Basa Khonelidze
(5 tries)
2019
2024

The 2023 under 20 competition (alongside the Trophy) was the first global U20 competition held since 2019, with the 2020 edition, scheduled to be held in Italy, cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing instability in the world following the pandemic delaying the return of the competition. There were however various regional U20 competitions with the Six Nations Under 20s Championship and Oceania Rugby Under 20 Championship continuing to take place.

Venues

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Athlone Stellenbosch Paarl
Athlone Stadium Danie Craven Stadium Paarl Gimnasium
Capacity: 34,000 Capacity: 16,000 Capacity: 2,000

Teams

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The teams that participated in the tournament are listed in the table below, with a summary of their previous best results at the World Rugby Under 20 Championship included.

Team No. Result (2019) Best Result
  Argentina 12 4th Third place (2016)
  Australia 12 2nd Runners-up (2010, 2019)
  England 12 5th Champions (2013, 2014, 2016)
  Fiji 8 11th Sixth place (2011)
  France 12 1st Champions (2018, 2019)
  Georgia 4 10th Ninth place (2018)
  Ireland 12 8th Runners-up (2016)
  Italy 10 9th Eighth place (2017, 2018)
  Japan 5 Tenth place (2015)
  New Zealand 12 7th Champions (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017)
  South Africa 12 3rd Champions (2012)
  Wales 12 6th Runners-up (2013)

Match officials

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The following officials were named for the tournament, with an official panel of 10 referees designated to oversee the game. Assistant Referees for the pool stage were local South African referees, whilst in a World Rugby first, a TMO bunker was trialled whereby the Television Match Official focussed on the game, and a Split Screen Operator focussed on any yellow cards needing an upgrade to a red card.

Pool stage

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Pool A Pool B Pool C

  France
  Japan
  New Zealand
  Wales

  Australia
  England
  Fiji
  Ireland

  Argentina
  Georgia
  Italy
  South Africa

Pool A

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Team Pld W D L PF PA −/+ TF TA BP Pts
  France 3 3 0 0 153 45 +108 22 7 3 15
  New Zealand 3 2 0 1 103 80 +23 16 12 2 10
  Wales 3 1 0 2 86 89 –3 13 13 3 7
  Japan 3 0 0 3 50 178 –128 8 27 0 0
24 June
14:00 SAST (UTC+02)
France  75–12  Japan
Try: Depoortère (2) 2' c, 48' c
Reus 7' c
Gazzotti (2) 9' c, 34' c
Zinzen 17' c
Capilla 30' c
Ferté 42' c
Carbonneau 70' c
Liufau 74' m
Timo 75' c
Con: Reus (6/6) 3', 8', 10', 18', 30', 35'
Mondinat (4/5) 43', 49', 71', 76'
Try: Muto 27' c
Omoto 60' m
Con: Naramoto (1/2) 28'
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
24 June
16:00 SAST (UTC+02)
Wales  26–27  New Zealand
Try: Lloyd 21' m
D. Edwards 26' c
M. Morse 37' c
Scarfe 79' c
Con: D. Edwards (3/4) 26', 38', 79'
Pen: D. Edwards (0/1)
Try: Tangitau 7' m
Springer 45' m
Hainsworth-Fa’aofo 50' c
Clark 60' c
Con: Kemara (2/4) 51', 61'
Pen: Godfrey (1/1) 55'
Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
29 June
13:30 SAST (UTC+02)
France  35–14  New Zealand
Try: Attissogbé 7' c
Tuilagi (2) 19' c, 42' c
Jauneau 30' c
Liufau 67' c
Con: Reus (5/5) 8', 20', 31', 44', 68'
Try: Penalty try 57'
Lakai 64' c
Con: Kemara (1/1) 65'
Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl
Referee: Damian Schneider (Argentina)
29 June
14:00 SAST (UTC+02)
Wales  41–19  Japan
Try: Hughes 16' c
Lloyd 40' m
Florence 64' m
D. Edwards 75' c
Bradley 76' c
Hennessey 79' c
Con: D. Edwards (3/5) 17', 76', 78'
Wilde (1/1) 80'
Pen: D. Edwards (1/1) 3'
Try: Nagashima (2) 21' c, 31' c
Oike 36' m
Con: Naramoto (2/3) 22', 32'
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
4 July
16:00 SAST (UTC+02)
New Zealand  62–19  Japan
Try: Hutchinson 7' m
Hainsworth-Fa’aofo 24' c
Springer (3) 26' m, 33' c, 69' c
Wrampling-Alec 37' c
Kemara (2) 39' c, 46' m
Flanders 72' c
Stodart 76' m
Con: Kemara (2/4) 25', 33'
Godfrey (4/6) 38', 40', 69', 72'
Try: Imano 4' c
Omoto 16' m
Nagashima 73' c
Con: Taira (1/2) 5'
Naramoto (1/1) 74'
Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl
Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia)
4 July
16:30 SAST (UTC+02)
France  43–19  Wales
Try: Depoortère (2) 8' c, 41' c
Mondinat 18' c
Carbonneau 20' c
Julien 57' c
Moustin 78' m
Con: Mondinat (5/5) 10', 19', 22', 42', 58'
Reus (0/1)
Pen: Mondinat (1/1) 4'
Try: Driscoll 40' c
Florence 47' c
Houston 71' m
Con: D. Edwards (2/3) 40+1', 48'
Athlone Stadium, Athlone
Referee: Takehito Namekawa (Japan)

Pool B

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Team Pld W D L PF PA −/+ TF TA BP Pts
  Ireland 3 2 1 0 111 71 +40 17 10 3 13
  England 3 1 2 0 109 63 +46 15 10 2 10
  Australia 3 1 1 1 78 89 –11 11 11 1 7
  Fiji 3 0 0 3 71 146 –75 10 22 2 2
24 June
13:30 SAST (UTC+02)
England  34–34  Ireland
Try: Opoku-Fordjour 23' c
Penalty try 48'
Cusick (2) 52' c, 69' c
Con: Slevin (3/3) 24', 53', 71'
Pen: Slevin (2/2) 3', 67'
ReportTry: Prendergast 11' m
Hadden 21' m
McNabney 40' m
Quinn 56' m
McErlean 60' c
Cooney 64' c
Con: Prendergast (2/6) 61', 64'
Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
24 June
16:30 SAST (UTC+02)
Australia  46–37  Fiji
Try: Bowron 11' c
Bloomfield 18' m
Lancaster (2) 24' m, 68' c
Vaihu 34' c
Leahy 41' m
Gordon 66' c
Con: Gordon (2/5) 12', 35'
Bowen (2/2) 67', 69'
Pen: Bowen (1/1) 79'
Try: Waqaicece 13 c'
Murray 38' c
Tagiveitaua 47' c
Nakalevu 56' c
Con: Armstrong-Ravula (4/4) 14', 39', 49', 58'
Pen: Armstrong-Ravula (3/3) 9', 22', 64'
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Takehito Namekawa (Japan)
29 June
11:00 SAST (UTC+02)
Australia  10–30  Ireland
Try: O'Donnell 23' m
Con: Bowen (1/1) 24'
Pen: Bowen (1/1) 26'
ReportTry: Nicholson 30' m
Gleeson 52' c
G. McCarthy 62' m
Mangan 80' c
Con: Prendergast (1/3) 53'
Oliver (1/1) 80+1'
Pen: Prendergast (2/2) 6', 40'
Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl
Referee: Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
29 June
19:00 SAST (UTC+02)
England  53–7  Fiji
Try: Cleaves 14' c
Penalty try 25'
Jibulu 32' m
Thomas 46' c
Thame 49' m
Michelow 54' c
Woodman 66' m
Fisilau 80' c
Con: Slevin (3/5) 15', 47', 55'
Johnson (1/2) 80+1'
Pen: Slevin (1/1) 11'
Try: McGoon 19'
Con: Armstrong-Ravula (1/1) 20'
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
4 July
13:30 SAST (UTC+02)
Ireland  47–27  Fiji
Try: Gleeson (2) 6' c, 33' c
Sheahan 10' m
Hadden 20' c
G. McCarthy (2) 55' c, 76' c
Osborne 66' c
Con: Lynch (3/4) 7', 21', 34'
Prendergast (3/3) 55', 66', 76'
ReportTry: McGoon 14' c
Armstrong-Ravula 38' m
Murray 41' m
Finau 48' m
Vonovono 80' m
Con: Armstrong-Ravula (1/4) 15'
Ralogaivau (0/1)
Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl
Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
4 July
14:00 SAST (UTC+02)
Australia  22–22  England
Try: Talataina 30' c
Craig 38' c
McLaughlin-Phillips 77' m
Con: Bowen (2/3) 31', 39'
Pen: Bowen (1/1) 18'
Try: Bracken 3' m
Cleaves 34' m
Jibulu 42' m
Con: Slevin (2/3) 4', 35'
Pen: Slevin (1/1) 55'
Athlone Stadium, Athlone
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

Pool C

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Team Pld W D L PF PA −/+ TF TA BP Pts
  South Africa 3 2 0 1 83 73 +10 10 8 1 9
  Georgia 3 2 0 1 73 50 +23 9 5 1 9
  Argentina 3 1 0 2 59 59 0 7 7 1 5
  Italy 3 1 0 2 66 99 –33 8 14 1 5
24 June
11:00 SAST (UTC+02)
Argentina  43–15  Italy
Try: Baronio 25' c
Chiavassa 34' c
Soler 37' c
Elías 44' c
Minoyetti 62' m
Elizalde 78' c
Con: Baronio (4/5) 26', 34', 38', 45'
Dicapua (1/1) 79'
Drop: Baronio (1/1) 68'
Try: Passarella 20' m
Odiase 67' c
Con: Sante (1/2) 68'
Pen: Sante (1/1) 2'
Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
24 June
19:00 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa  33–23  Georgia
Try: Letebele 6' c
Julius 22' c
Hooker 70' c
Con: Smith (3/3) 7', 23', 72'
Pen: Smith (4/4) 3', 40', 66', 68'
Try: Tsikhistavi 13' c
Tsirekidze 58' m
Babunashvili 74' m
Con: Khutsishvili (1/2) 14'
Kheladze (0/1)
Pen: Khutsishvili (2/2) 45', 63'
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
29 June
16:00 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa  26–34  Italy
Try: Letebele 30' m
Julius 36' c
Markus 56' c
Else 60' c
Con: Khan (3/4) 38', 57', 61'
Pen: Khan (0/1)
Try: Penalty try 8'
Gasperini 17' c
Gallorini (2) 45' c, 50' c
Con: Brisighella (3/3) 18', 46', 51'
Pen: Brisighella (1/1) 24'
Sante (1/1) 74'
Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl
Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia)
29 June
16:30 SAST (UTC+02)
Argentina  0–20  Georgia
Try: Khorbaladze 17' c
Khonelidze 34' c
Con: Khutsishvili (2/2) 18', 36'
Pen: Khutsishvili (2/2) 43', 55'
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
4 July
11:00 SAST (UTC+02)
Italy  17–30  Georgia
Try: Casilio 19' c
Gallorini 44' c
Con: Brisighella (2/2) 21', 45'
Pen: Brisighella (1/2) 14'
Try: Lomidze 9' c
Khonelidze (2) 28' m, 53' c
Tchamiashvili 77' m
Con: Khutsishvili (2/4) 11', 54'
Pen: Khutsishvili (2/2) 24', 35'
Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl
Referee: Damian Schneider (Argentina)
4 July
19:00 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa  24–16  Argentina
Try: Else 26' c
Beets (2) 68' c, 75' c
Con: Smith (3/3) 27', 69', 76'
Pen: Smith (1/1) 42'
Try: Zanella 35' c
Con: Dicapua (1/1) 36'
Pen: Dicapua (3/3) 3', 14', 22'
Athlone Stadium, Athlone
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)

Pool stage standings

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Seedings for the knockout stage based on results from the pool stage:.[2]

Pos Team Pool Pld −/+ Pts
Finals
1   France A 3 +108 15
2   Ireland B 3 +40 13
3   South Africa C 3 +10 9
4   England B 3 +46 10
5–8th place play-offs
5   New Zealand A 3 +23 10
6   Georgia C 3 +23 9
7   Wales A 3 −3 7
8   Australia B 3 −11 7
9–12th place play-offs
9   Argentina C 3 0 5
10   Italy C 3 −33 5
11   Fiji B 3 –75 2
12   Japan A 3 −128 0

Knockout stage

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9–12th place play-offs

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Semi-finals9th place
 
      
 
9 July – Paarl
 
 
  Italy26
 
14 July – Stellenbosch
 
  Fiji41
 
  Fiji 22
 
9 July – Paarl
 
  Argentina43
 
  Argentina45
 
 
  Japan20
 
11th place
 
 
14 July – Stellenbosch
 
 
  Italy 45
 
 
  Japan27

Semi-finals

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9 July
11:00 SAST (UTC+02)
Italy  26–41  Fiji
Try: Gallorini 4' c
Quattrini 23' m
Botturi 58' c
Gasperini 61' c
Con: Brisighella (3/4) 6', 58', 62'
Try: Vocevoce 10' c
Basiyalo 28' c
Masiwini 35' c
Nalasi 66' c
Finau 71' c
Con: Ravula (5/5) 11', 29', 37', 68', 73'
Pen: Ravula (2/2) 17', 50'
Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
9 July
13:30 SAST (UTC+02)
Argentina  45–20  Japan
Try: Mallia 7' m
Elías 14' c
Moyano 29' c
Soler 35' m
Bildosola 56' c
Chiavassa 60' c
Valarolo 78' c
Con: Dicapua (3/5) 15', 31', 80'
Mallia (2/2) 57', 61'
Try: Omachi 4' c
Oike 46' c
Con: Naramoto (2/2) 5', 47'
Pen: Naramoto (2/2) 51', 53'
Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl
Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)

11th place

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14 July
12:00 SAST (UTC+02)
Italy  45–27  Japan
Try: Passarella (3) 1' m, 39' c, 72' m
Casilio 16' c
Gesi 29' c
Odiase 51' c
Bozzoni 70' c
Con: Brisighella (5/7) 17', 30', 40', 52', 71'
Try: Omachi 13' c
Oike 45' m
Hayashi 75' c
Nagashima 78' m
Con: Naramoto (1/2) 14'
Nonaka (1/2) 75'
Pen: Naramoto (1/1) 34'
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

9th place

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14 July
14:30 SAST (UTC+02)
Fiji  22–43  Argentina
Try: Tagiveitaua 7' m
Waqaicece 41' c
Basiyalo (2) 53' m, 65' m
Con: Basiyalo (1/4) 42'
Try: Soler Filloy 11' m
Minoyetti 20' m
Giudice 25' c
Chiavassa (2) 29' m, 68' c
Di Biase 33' c
Penalty try 47'
Con: Dicapua (3/6) 27', 35', 69'
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)

5–8th place play-offs

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Semi-finals5th place
 
      
 
9 July – Paarl
 
 
  Georgia21
 
14 July – Athlone
 
  Wales40
 
  Wales33
 
9 July – Athlone
 
  Australia57
 
  New Zealand35
 
 
  Australia44
 
7th place
 
 
14 July – Stellenbosch
 
 
  Georgia26
 
 
  New Zealand50

Semi-finals

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9 July
14:00 SAST (UTC+02)
New Zealand  35–44  Australia
Try: Springer 2' m
Tangitau (2) 19' c, 56' m
Wrampling-Alec 38' c
Taylor 44' m
Con: Kemara (2/5) 20', 39'
Pen: Kemara (1/1) 32'
Drop: Kemara (1/1) 40+1'
Try: Craig (2) 15' m, 23' m
O'Donnell 27' m
Ryan (2) 46' c, 58' c
Leahy 51' m
Wilson 77' c
Con: McLaughlin-Phillips (3/7) 47', 59', 78'
Pen: McLaughlin-Phillips (1/1) 9'
Athlone Stadium, Athlone
Referee: Takehito Namekawa (Japan)
9 July
16:00 SAST (UTC+02)
Georgia  21–40  Wales
Try: Mamaiashvili 47' m
Tchamiashvili 64' m
Kakhoidze 77' m
Con: Khutsishvili (0/3)
Pen: Khutsishvili (2/2) 4', 17'
Try: Lloyd 38' c
Hennessey (2) 42' c, 50' c
Houston 54' m
De la Rua 70' c
Westwood 79' c
Con: D. Edwards (4/5) 37', 43', 51', 72'
Wilde (1/1) 80'
Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)

7th place

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14 July
17:00 SAST (UTC+02)
Georgia  26–50  New Zealand
Try: Mikadze 32' c
Khonelidze (2) 39' c, 62' m
Aptsiauri 56' c
Con: Khutsishvili (3/4) 33', 40', 57'
Try: Tangitau (2) 4' c, 16' m
Stodart 9' c
Lakai 25' c
Hotham 27' c
Clark 70' c
Penalty try 78'
Con: Kemara (5/6) 5', 10', 26', 28', 71'
Pen: Kemara (1/1) 65'
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)

5th place

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14 July
14:00 SAST (UTC+02)
Wales  33–57  Australia
Try: Lloyd 22' m
Morgan (2) 46' c, 65' c
Woodman 69' c
Williams 78' c
Con: D. Edwards (3/4) 47', 66', 70'
Wilde (1/1) 79'
Try: O'Donnell (2) 8' m, 41' c
Macpherson (2) 30' m, 48' c
Bowron (2) 34' m, 62' c
Wilson 49' c
Pearce 72' c
Slack-Smith 76' c
Con: Bowron (6/9) 42', 48', 51', 63', 73', 77'
Athlone Stadium, Athlone
Referee: Angus Mabey (New Zealand)

Finals

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Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
9 July – Athlone
 
 
  Ireland31
 
14 July – Athlone
 
  South Africa12
 
  Ireland14
 
9 July – Athlone
 
  France50
 
  France52
 
 
  England31
 
3rd place
 
 
14 July – Athlone
 
 
  South Africa22
 
 
  England15

Semi-finals

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9 July
16:30 SAST (UTC+02)
Ireland  31–12  South Africa
Try: Nicholson (2) 37' c, 59' c
Gleeson 49' c
Berman 68' c
Con: Prendergast (4/4) 38', 50', 61', 66'
Pen: Prendergast (1/1) 71'
Try: Khan 45' c
Le Roux 75' m
Con: Smith (1/2) 46'
Athlone Stadium, Athlone
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
9 July
19:00 SAST (UTC+02)
France  52–31  England
Try: Ferté 16' c
Costes 24' c
Penalty try 46'
Nouchi 53' c
Gazzotti 56' c
Jegou 64' c
Reus 73' c
Con: Reus (6/6) 17', 25', 54', 58', 65', 74'
Pen: Reus (1/1) 80'
Try: Harris 11' c
Wills 13' c
Cunningham-South 37' c
Cleaves 76' c
Con: Johnson (3/3) 12', 14', 38'
Harris (1/1) 76'
Pen: Johnson (1/1) 3'
Athlone Stadium, Athlone
Referee: Angus Mabey (New Zealand)

3rd place

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14 July
16:30 SAST (UTC+02)
South Africa  22–15  England
Try: Sieberhagen 10' c
Beets 17' c
Else 38' m
Con: Smith (2/3) 11', 18'
Pen: Smith (1/1) 20'
Try: Wright 22' m
Carr 42' c
Con: Slevin (1/2) 43'
Pen: Slevin (1/2) 6'
Athlone Stadium, Athlone
Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia)

Final

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14 July
19:00 SAST (UTC+02)
Ireland  14–50  France
Try: Gunne 3' c
Devine 30' c
Con: Prendergast (2/2) 3', 32'
ReportTry: Ferté (2) 13' c, 74' m
Julien 34' c
Jouvin 41' c
Depoortère 44' c
Nouchi 75' c
Drouet 80' c
Con: Reus (6/7) 14', 35', 42', 44', 75', 80'
Pen: Reus (1/2) 22'
Athlone Stadium, Athlone
Referee: Damian Schneider (Argentina)

Final placings

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA −/+ TF TA
1   France 5 5 0 0 255 90 +165 36 13
2   Ireland 5 3 1 1 156 133 +23 23 19
3   South Africa 5 3 0 2 117 119 –2 12 13
4   England 5 1 2 2 155 137 18 21 20
5–8th place play-offs
5   Australia 5 3 1 1 179 157 +22 27 21
6   Wales 5 2 0 3 159 167 −8 24 25
7   New Zealand 5 3 0 2 188 149 +39 28 23
8   Georgia 5 2 0 3 120 121 −1 16 18
9–12th place play-offs
9   Argentina 5 3 0 2 147 101 +46 20 10
10   Fiji 5 1 0 4 134 215 −81 19 33
11   Italy 5 2 0 3 137 167 −30 19 23
12   Japan 5 0 0 5 97 268 −171 14 41

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "World Rugby U20 tournaments return to Africa in 2023" (Press release). World Rugby. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  2. ^ "South Africa leave it late to deny Georgia an historic semi-final place at the U20 Championship". World Rugby. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023. The 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship tournament rules don't appear to have been published, but the seeding is consistent with the tournament rules for the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.
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