The brightest young stars in world rugby will be on display when the Junior Boks play three matches in the Rugby Championship U20 tournament in Gqeberha during May.
SA, New Zealand, Argentina, and Australia will play a series of double-headers against one another on May 1, 6 and 11 in a rugby extravaganza at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The inaugural Rugby Champs U20 in 2024 on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, was a huge success, and organisers believe the second edition will attract big crowds.
In 2024, New Zealand edged out the Junior Boks for the title after finishing the tournament unbeaten.
After a draw against the Boks in the first round, they followed it up with victories over Argentina and Australia.
With the World Rugby U20 Championship taking place in Italy in July, the Rugby Championship U20 will be the perfect springboard for teams.
The format remains the same, with all teams playing each other once in a three-match round robin across three match days.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer says Nelson Mandela Bay will be an excellent host for the second edition of the tournament.
“We are thrilled to bring this tournament to Gqeberha, a city with a rich rugby culture and a passionate fan base, and we are very grateful for the assistance from the Eastern Cape government in this regard,” he said.
“The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium offers top-class team facilities and an exceptional viewing experience for fans, making it the perfect venue for this event.
“The combination of top-notch facilities and accommodation, coupled with the enthusiastic support of the Eastern Cape government and the Nelson Mandela Bay metro, will undoubtedly create a memorable experience for everyone involved.
“Together with the Friendly City, we are looking forward to welcoming and hosting the best U20s from the southern hemisphere in the Eastern Cape.”
Provincial sport MEC Sibulele Ngongo expressed her gratitude to SA Rugby for their partnership in bringing the Rugby Championship U20 Tournament to the Eastern Cape.
“This is a landmark moment for the Home of Legends as the Junior Springboks will be playing for the first time in history in the Eastern Cape,” she said.
Sanzaar CEO Brendan Morris said: “Following the success of the inaugural tournament in Queensland, Australia, in 2024, we are pleased to announce that the U20 Championship will head to SA this year.
“Last year, the title went down to the last round, and we witnessed some very competitive and absorbing rugby.
“This important Championship, to be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, will not only provide a vital pathway for up-and-coming rugby talent through exposure to essential international competition but will also provide development opportunities for the next generation of coaches, team management and match officials.
“Sanzaar sincerely thanks SA Rugby, which has an excellent reputation for hosting such events, for its support of the Championship, and especially to the Eastern Cape government which is providing invaluable assistance with the staging of the tournament.”
Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote said: “We are thrilled that the U20 Rugby Championship will be hosted on home soil this year.
“It’s a rare and special opportunity for the Junior Boks to play in front of our passionate home fans here in SA, and this tournament is crucial for our preparations ahead of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy.
“We look forward to testing ourselves against the best young rugby players in the southern hemisphere, and we hope Eastern Cape fans will come out in numbers to support us.”
Tickets are priced at R20 per person and will be available at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium ticket office or online from Webtickets.
Fixtures:
Thursday, May 1, 2pm: New Zealand v Australia, 4.10pm: Junior Boks v Argentina.
Tuesday, May 6, 2pm: New Zealand v Argentina, 4.10pm: Junior Boks v Australia.
Sunday, May 11, 2pm: Argentina v Australia, 4.10pm: Junior Boks v New Zealand.
The Herald
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.