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South Africa is to host back-to-back u20 World Championships in 2023 and 2024. World Rugby confirmed the decision in an announcement that also included pools for the 2023 tournament.
The Americas’ giant, Argentina, join South Africa, Italy and Georgia in Pool C of the 2023 u20 World Championship. South Africa are the number 3 seeds for the competition. Argentina are 4th, Italy 9th and Georgia 10th.
The twelve-team tournament will also contain France, Wales, New Zealand and Japan in Pool A and Australia, England, Ireland and Fiji in Pool B. The competition will win from Saturday, June 24 to Friday, July 14 with match venues in Cape Town, Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Wellington.
The 2020, 2021 and 2022 editions of the u20 Championship were canceled. The decision to play the 2023 tournament in South Africa comes with controversy; Italy were supposed to host the competition in 2020. The 2023 competition will be South Africa’s second time as host; South Africa hosted the 2012 edition.
World Rugby have also confirmed that Africa will also play host to the 2023 u20 Trophy. Kenya will host the tournament from July 15-30. It is to be the second edition of the tournament in the East African country; Kenya previously hosted in 2009. It was also in Africa in 2016 when Zimbabwe hosted.
The 2023 u20 Trophy will be contested at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi. The winner will earn promotion to the 2024 U20 Championship which will be played in South Africa. The 2023 u20 Trophy will consist of two pools of four teams.
The Americas will have two of the four competitors in Pool A. The group will involve Uruguay, Scotland and two qualifiers, one each from Africa and North America. Canada or the USA will be the North American competitor.
