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World Rugby have announced the cancellation of the 2022 u20 Championship and Trophy tournaments, at the same time confirming the return of the flagship age-grade competitions in 2023. This is the third consecutive year that the events will not take place due to the pandemic.
Formal dates and hosts for the 2023 events are yet to be confirmed. Argentina will be among 12 teams competing in the top-tier Championship. Japan won promotion from the last Trophy tournament held in 2019, while relegated Scotland are the only team to date confirmed of the 8 that will compete in the second-tier Trophy.
Los Pumitas finished 4th as hosts of the Championship in 2019. Since then seven members of the team have graduated to full test honors. Brazil were hosts of the Trophy tournament that year. They finished in 7th spot with Canada 5th and Uruguay 4th.
Argentina and Uruguay each competed in a four-nation series hosted by South Africa last summer. Georgia were the fourth team invited with games played in Stellenbosch.
World Rugby is currently discussing financial support for regional age-grade tournaments to help fill the gap this year. The inaugural u20 Americas Rugby Championship was due to take place in 2020 and could make its long-awaited debut later this year.
