World Rugby Controversially Allocate 2024 U20 Trophy hosting to Scotland

World Rugby has allocated the 2024 U20 Trophy to Scotland. This comes with controversy after Scotland was relegated from the U20 Championship to the U20 Trophy and remains in the competition but did not compete in regional qualifiers.

Scotland did not have a good 2023 U20 Trophy campaign in Kenya. The Scots fell to Uruguay to miss out on a chance to fight for promotion in the final. Uruguay lost against Spain in what was a classic. This meant Scotland would remain in the U20 Trophy, that is assuming Scotland competed in European qualifiers to book a spot.

Scotland did not compete in European Qualifiers. This was controversial because in other to qualify for the World Rugby u20 Trophy teams must go through the regional u20 competitions which are defined on a continental basis. In the case of Scotland this meant the Europe Under-20 Championship.

Organized by Rugby Europe, the Rugby Europe u20 Championship was won by the Netherlands. The Netherlands defeated Belgium 26-16 in the final. The Netherlands thus earned the right to compete in the 2024 u20 Trophy. The Dutch will do so in Pool B alongside Uruguay, and qualifiers from Africa and North America.

Portugal finished third by defeating Ligue Aura, an U19 amateur side from the Region Auvergne Rhone-Alpes in France. Czechia, Poland, Romania and Switzerland. Scotland was notably absent and this has now been corrected by allocating the hosting rights to the 2024 u20 Trophy.

Scotland hosting the tournament raises grave questions over World Rugby governance. Scotland will host the u20 Trophy after not competing in the qualifiers. Moreover, Scotland will have home advantage and will be the only Tier 1 country competing.

The 2024 World Rugby U20 Trophy will be played in July in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. The eight team competition offers the prize of a place in the 2025 U20 Championship.