Details confirmed for World Rugby u20 Trophy

The 2017 World Rugby u20 Trophy tournament set to be held at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo, Uruguay, will see its latest start ever with the opening round set for Tuesday, August 29 and the final slated for Sunday, September 10. With many teams unhappy with the timing of the tournament that took place in April of this year, the change to a later kickoff will be a welcome one. Not only does it allow for more time to prepare, but for Canada and the USA especially it should offer a better chance of fielding full strength sides with past teams hampered by selection limitations due to school commitments.

Once again only one North American team will qualify in 2017, a consequence of World Rugby’s limitation of an eight-team tournament. A one-off qualifying match will be the format employed to determine who wins the spot with the match set to take place at Westhills Stadium in Langford in mid-June, exact date to be determined. Both teams will hold several selection and training camps during the winter months.

Canada have only four returning players eligible for 2017, though two are currently placed in French academy programs. Pau second row Matt Beukeboom and Clermont center George Barton are expected to play leading roles, with Burnaby Lake hooker Connor Sampson and Stoney Creek flyhalf Mitch Richardson also potential repeat selections.

A handful of likely participants made appearances for senior regional sides last year, with Richardson seeing time for the Ontario Blues along with Oshawa Vikings prop Dylan Parson. Hard-running BC Bears no8 Taitusi Vikilani is eligible, as is versatile Atlantic Rock standout Aidan McMullan. Three others from Canada’s centralized athlete program should also take park – Brantford Harlequins flyhalf Will Kelly, Abbotsford loose forward Jake Thiel, and New Brunswick prop Cole Keith.

The Junior All-Americans have an impressive 12 players eligible for selection again in 2017, including two that could potentially play in a third tournament in 2018. Props Sam Benkowski, Roman Salanoa, and Americas Pacific Challenge selection Chance Wenglewski will be in the front row mix along with hooker Steven Branham. Zimbabwe export Deven Marshall could return at lock, with Veuki Taumoefolau and APC flanker Malon Al-Jiboori targeting spots in the back row.

Senior Eagles cap Lorenzo Thomas should be fully recovered from a knee injury suffered at the 2016 tourney, and he will hope to have Lindenwood teammate Deion Mikesell outside on the wing this time after the latter missed out in April. Travis Heer and Devin Lim will also be back line contenders. Texas forward Bronson Teles and Arkansas scrumhalf Ruben de Haas will still have another year of eligibility after 2017 having been born in 1998.

Two teams from the Americas have already qualified. Hosts Uruguay will be joined by Chile, who make their first appearance in the tourney since playing host themselves in 2013. While the Chilean team will be entirely new, Uruguay could have as many as 10 returning players. Headlining the roster will likely be Oyonnax Academy and APC lock Manuel Leindekar, who missed this year’s tournament but took part in 2015. Star winger Martín Fitipaldo and promising center Agustín Della Corte should also feature.

The forwards should be particularly strong, with the team capable of fielding almost a complete set with previous Trophy experience. Starting hooker Yamandú Arburúas is a key figure in a front row that could also include Jaime Coll, Guillermo Pujadas, or Agustín Sosa. Juan Cruz Codesal is an option to partner Leindekar at lock or play in the back row, where loose forwards Federico Bruno and Santiago Civetta are further options.

Other teams already qualified are African champions Namibia and Japan, relegated from this year’s u20 Championship. Along with with either Canada or the USA, one team from Oceania – likely Fiji – will take part along with one each from Asia and Europe.

2017 WORLD RUGBY u20 TROPHY

DATES
08/29 – Round 1
09/02 – Round 2
09/06 – Round 3
09/10 – Finals

TEAMS
Hosts – Uruguay
Relegated – Japan
Rugby Africa – Namibia
Sudamérica Rugby – Chile
Rugby Americas North – Canada or USA
Oceania Rugby – tbd
Rugby Europe – tbd
Asia Rugby – tbd