2025 U20 Rugby Championship
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host | South Africa |
| Date | 1–11 May 2025 |
| Countries | Argentina Australia New Zealand South Africa |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | New Zealand (2nd title) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 6 |
| Tries scored | 65 (10.83 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Maloni Kunawave (30) |
| Most tries | Maloni Kunawave (6) |
← 2024 2026 → | |
The 2025 U20 Rugby Championship, also known as 2025 TRC U20, was the second edition of the rugby union competition, the U20 Rugby Championship, the under-20 equivalent of The Rugby Championship, played by senior men's teams of Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The tournament dates and venue were announced in April 2025, being hosted by South Africa, with every match being played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha (formerly called Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape.[1][2][3]
New Zealand were the defending champions.[4] On 11 May 2025, New Zealand defended their title, defeating the hosts South Africa in a close match, 45–48.[5] Before the final match, Australia's 40–36 win against Argentina earlier in the day jumped them up into first place.[6]
Venue
The venue was confirmed in April 2025, a month prior to the tournaments scheduled start date.[1][2]
| North End (Gqeberha) | |
|---|---|
| Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium | |
| Capacity: 46,000 | |
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand (C) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 152 | 95 | +57 | 24 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 2 | Australia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 98 | 89 | +9 | 15 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 3 | South Africa (H) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 105 | 102 | +3 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | Argentina | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 82 | 151 | −69 | 11 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Fixtures
Fixtures were announced alongside the tournament venue and dates (April 2025).[1][2][7]
Round 1
| 1 May 14:00 SAST (UTC+02) |
| New Zealand | 29–29 | Australia |
| Try: Saunoa 4' m Solomon 33' m Kunawave (2) 45' m, 48' c Penalty try 59' Con: Solomon (1/4) 49' Cards: Oudenryn 82' | Report | Try: Grover (2) 8' m, 38' m Harvey 27' c King 61' m Morrison 82' c Con: Harvey (2/5) 28', 83' Cards: Mangelsdorf 59' to 69' Fowler 43' to 53' Martens 65' to 75' |
| Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Referee: Christopher Allison (South Africa) |
| 1 May 16:10 SAST (UTC+02) |
| South Africa | 36–25 | Argentina |
| Try: Pead (2) 15' c, 47' c Erasmus 23' m Norton 52' c Cupido 60' c Con: Smith (3/4) 16' 48' 52' Moyo 61' (1/1) Pen: Smith (1/1) 5' | Report | Try: Senillosa 18' c Lescano 35' c Ledesma 41' m Con: Benedit (2/3) 19', 36' Pen: Benedit (2/2) 11', 27' |
| Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Referee: Todd Petrie (New Zealand) |
Round 2
| 6 May 14:00 SAST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) New Zealand | 75–21 | Argentina |
| Try: Kunawave (2) 8' c, 29' m Bason (2) 16' c, 27' c Tengblad 22' c Woodley 38' c Oudenryn 41' c Ahloo 64' c Lewai (2) 66' c, 73' c Maisiri 76' c Con: Cole (8/9) 9', 17', 23', 28', 39', 42', 65', 67' Simpson (2/2) 74', 76' | Report | Try: Arrieta 11' c Cambiasso 34' c Ignacio Carrera 49' c Con: Arrieta (3/3) 12', 36', 50' |
| Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Referee: George Myers (Australia) |
| 6 May 16:10 SAST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) South Africa | 24–29 | Australia |
| Try: Nyali 2' c Ndlozi 27' c Hlekani 78' c Con: Moyo (2/2) 3', 28' Smith (1/1) 78' Pen: Moyo (1/1) 42' | Report | Try: Doyle 46' c Langi 59' c Ata 62' c Rubens 69' m Con: Harvey (3/4) 47', 60', 63' Pen: Doyle (1/1) 75' Cards: King 33' to 43' |
| Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Referee: Thomas Bertazza (Argentina) |
Round 3
| 11 May 14:00 SAST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) Argentina | 36–40 | Australia |
| Try: Vieyra (2) 14' m, 56' c Pnealty try 25' García Campos 37' c Ledesma Arocena 82' c Con: Benedit (3/4) 38', 57', 82' Drop: Senillosa (1/1) 42' Cards: Storey 18' to 28' Benítez 73' | Report | Try: Martens 3' c Rubens 11' m Brial 21' c Wilcox 49' c Ata 64' c Penalty try 73' Con: Harvey (4/5) 4', 22', 50', 65' Cards: Dillon 25' to 35' |
| Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Referee: Christopher Allison (South Africa)[8] |
| 11 May 16:10 SAST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) South Africa | 45–48 | New Zealand |
| Try: Bester 2' m Ngobese 6' c Mnebelele 12' c Cupido 28' c Mlaba (2) 48' m, 55' c Penalty try 75' Con: Moyo (4/6) 7', 13', 29', 56' | Report | Try: Saunoa (3) 17' m, 25' c, 40' c Letiu 32' m Kunawave (2) 42' c, 60' m Pole 45' c Solomon 51' m Con: Cole (4/8) 26', 41', 43', 47' Cards: Woodley Baker 75' |
| Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Attendance: 14,835[5] Referee: Thomas Bertazza (Argentina)[8] |
Statistics
- As of 11 May 2025.[9]
Points scorers
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Try scorers
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See also
References
- ^ a b c "SANZAAR Confirms Venue & Match Schedule for The Rugby Championship U20 Tournament 2025". rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia. 16 April 2025. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ a b c "SANZAAR Confirms Venue & Match Schedule for TRC U20 2025". super.rugby. SANZAAR. 18 April 2025. Archived from the original on 22 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ "Junior Boks to host Sanzaar rivals". SA Rugby Magazine. 16 April 2025. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ "NZ U20 Make History And Win Inaugural TRC U20". super.rugby. SANZAAR. 12 May 2024. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024.
- ^ a b "NZ break Junior Bok hearts to defend U20 title". springboks.rugby. South African Rugby Union. 11 May 2025. Archived from the original on 12 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- ^ "Junior Wallabies down Argentina in a thriller – but Kiwis steal title after Bok collapse". The Roar. 12 May 2025. Archived from the original on 12 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- ^ "Fixtures for 2025 U20 Rugby Championship". americasrugbynews.com. Americas Rugby News. 16 April 2025. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Match official appointments to 11 May 2025". sarugby.co.za. South African Rugby Union. 8 May 2025. Archived from the original on 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
- ^ "Statistics – Rugby Championship U20 2025". All Rugby. Archived from the original on 12 May 2025.