The Junior Springboks will begin the defence of their world title against host nation Georgia on 27 June.

World Rugby on Thursday confirmed the full match schedule for the newly rebranded Junior World Championship.

The expanded 16-team global tournament will be staged in Georgia from 27 June to 18 July, with matches spread across Tbilisi and Kutaisi, marking the second time the country has hosted the prestigious event following the 2017 edition.

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Formerly known as the World Rugby U20 Championship, the competition returns to a 16-team format for the first time since 2009, welcoming Fiji, USA, Japan and Uruguay after the conclusion of the U20 Trophy cycle in 2024.

The Junior Boks, who lifted the trophy in Italy last year to end a 12-year wait for the title, have been drawn in Pool A alongside Georgia, Wales and Uruguay. The defending champions will play all three pool fixtures at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi.

South Africa’s opening two matches kick off at 6:30pm (SA time), starting against Georgia, before facing Uruguay on Thursday, 2 July. Their final pool clash against Wales is scheduled for a 4pm (SA time) kick-off.

The four pool winners will advance to the semi-finals, while second-placed teams will contest positions five to eight. Rankings matches will determine final placings through to 16th.

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The knockout stage will be played across two days per round, with the final and third-place playoff taking place at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi on 18 July.

World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson said the expansion reflects the organisation’s commitment to growing the game and developing future stars, while the 2026 tournament will also trial lower tackle heights as part of an enhanced player welfare focus.

Junior World Championship pools
Pool A: South Africa, Wales, Georgia, Uruguay
Pool B: New Zealand, Italy, Scotland, Japan
Pool C: Argentina, England, Ireland, USA
Pool D: France, Australia, Spain, Fiji

Junior Boks pool fixtures (SA times)
Saturday, 27 June: vs Georgia (6:30pm, Avchala)
Thursday, 2 July: vs Uruguay (6:30pm, Avchala)
Tuesday, 7 July: vs Wales (4pm, Avchala)

Photo: Timothy Rogers/Getty Images