2025 World Rugby U20 Championship
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host | Italy |
| Venue | 4 |
| Date | 29 June – 19 July 2025 (21 days) |
| Teams | 12 |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 18 |
| Tries scored | 163 (9.06 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Vusi Moyo (34) |
| Most tries | Hassiem Pead (5) |
← 2024 2026 → | |
The 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship (Italian: Campionato mondiale giovanile 2025), also known as Italia 2025,[1] is the 15th edition of the premier age-grade (World Rugby Under-20 Championship) rugby union competition. It is to be held from 29 June to 19 July in Italy, being hosted in the cities of Viadana, Calvisano, Verona and Rovigo.[2] The country has previously hosted the age-grade Championship twice before: 2011 and 2015. Italy were also confirmed to host the 2020 edition, but the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The championship will feature twelve teams, eleven of which are ranked based on their performance in the previous edition of the tournament (2024),[3] with the twelfth being 2024 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy winners Scotland, who returns to the Championship having been relegated in 2019.[4] Scotland replaced Fiji who were relegated after finishing twelfth in 2024.
England are defending champions, whom defeated France 21–13 in the 2024 final.[5][6][7]
Teams
The teams participating in the tournament are listed in the table below, with a summary of their previous best results at the World Rugby Under 20 Championship included.
| Team | No. | Result (2024) | Best Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 14 | 5th | Third place (2016) |
| Australia | 14 | 6th | Runners-up (2010, 2019) |
| England | 14 | 1st | Champions (2013, 2014, 2016, 2024) |
| France | 14 | 2nd | Champions (2018, 2019, 2023) |
| Georgia | 6 | 9th | Eighth place (2023) |
| Ireland | 14 | 4th | Runners-up (2016, 2023) |
| Italy | 12 | 10th | Eighth place (2017, 2018) |
| New Zealand | 14 | 3rd | Champions (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017) |
| South Africa | 14 | 7th | Champions (2012) |
| Scotland | 12 | —[a] | Fifth place (2017) |
| Spain | 1 | 11th | Eleventh place (2024) |
| Wales | 14 | 8th | Runners-up (2013) |
Match officials
The following officials were named for the tournament, with an official panel of ten referees designated to oversee the game, and five television match officials / foul play review officers. [8] Along side the World Rugby appointed officials, local home union referees were used as assistant referees.
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Venues
Four venues were announced on 14 March in line with the announcement of the hosts. It included Stadio San Michele, Calvisano and Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana who previously hosted the tournament in 2015, whilst Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo hosted the tournament in 2011. It will be the first time Payanini Center, Verona has hosted the event when in Italy, though was due to host matches in the cancelled 2020 edition.
| Viadana (Lombardy) | Rovigo (Veneto) | Calvisano (Lombardy) | Verona (Veneto) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stadio Luigi Zaffanella | Stadio Mario Battaglini | Stadio San Michele | Payanini Center |
| Capacity: 6,000 | Capacity: 5,500 | Capacity: 5,000 | Capacity: 2,500 |
Pool stage
Pool A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 53 | +125 | 26 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 15 | Advance to Semi-finals |
| 2 | England | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 114 | 84 | +30 | 16 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | Advance to Fifth-Place Semi-finals |
| 3 | Australia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 84 | 133 | −49 | 14 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |
| 4 | Scotland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 57 | 163 | −106 | 9 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Advance to Ninth-Place Semi-finals |
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: World Rugby
| 29 June 2025 15:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) England | 56–19 | Scotland |
| Try: Penalty try 10' Bracken (2) 14' c, 38' c James (2) 20' c, 28' c Knight 33' c Bellamy 72' c Redshaw 74' c Con: Coen (5/5) 15', 21', 30', 33', 39' Bellamy (2/2) 73', 75' | Report | Try: Penalty try 12' Cowan 7' m Patterson 76' c Con: Urwin (1/2) 77' |
| Payanini Center, Verona Referee: Marcus Playle (New Zealand) |
| 29 June 2025 15:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| Australia | 17–73 | South Africa (1 BP) |
| Try: Harvey 13' m Watters (2) 70' m, 73' c Con: Harvey (1/3) 74' | Report | Try: Pead (2) 6' c, 45' c Lubbe 24' c Ndlozi (2) 31' c, 37' c Jooste 40' m Mentoe 47' c Theron 49' c Grobbelaar 53' m Nyali 58' c Williams 80' c Con: Moyo (7/9) 7', 25', 32', 38', 46', 48', 50' Van der Merwe (2/2) 59', 80' |
| Stadio San Michele, Calvisano Referee: Katsuki Furuse (Japan) |
| 4 July 2025 15:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) Australia | 34–24 | Scotland (1 BP) |
| Try: Martens (2) 10' m, 65' c Conway 16' m Ata 28' c Baxter 71' m Guilfoyle 75' m Con: Harvey (2/6) 29', 66' | Report | Try: Douglas 13' m Duncan (2) 22' m, 62' c Findlay 45' c Con: Urwin (1/3) 46' Coates (1/1) 63' |
| Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana Referee: Lex Weiner (United States) |
| 4 July 2025 18:00 CEST (UTC+02) |
| England | 22–32 | South Africa (1 BP) |
| Try: Weimann 7' c Treacey 11' c Bracken 32' m Con: Bellamy (1/1) 8' Coen (1/2) 11' Pen: Coen (1/1) 37' | Report | Try: Jooste 23' c Pead (2) 28' m, 50' c Mentoe 35' c Con: Moyo (2/3) 23', 36', 50' Pen: Moyo (2/2) 46', 59' |
| Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo Referee: Tomas Bertazza (Argentina) |
| 9 July 15:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) South Africa | 73–14 | Scotland |
| Try: Williams (2) 4' c, 16' c Biyela 10' c Malgas 13' c Reid 21' c Mentoe 31' c Erasmus 35' m Everson (2) 61' c, 71' c Linde 64' c Pead 80' c Con: Moyo (4/5) 5', 13', 16', 22' Van der Merwe (5/6) 32', 62', 65', 71', 80+1' | Report | Try: Stephen 29' c Finlayson-Russell 74' c Con: Urwin (1/1) 30' Brown (1/1) 74' |
| Stadio San Michele, Calvisano Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales) |
| 9 July 2025 18:00 CEST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) England | 36–33 | Australia (2 BP) |
| Try: Treacey 12' c Tuipulotu (3) 34' m, 40+1' c, 45' c Bracken 62' c Con: Coen (4/5) 13', 40+1', 45', 63' Pen: Coen (1/1) 80' | Report | Try: Conway (2) 14' c, 49' c Sharples 64' c King 68' c Martens 75' m Con: Fowler (4/5) 15', 50', 64', 69' |
| Payanini Center, Verona Referee: Jérémy Rozier (France) |
Pool B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 58 | +78 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 15 | Advance to Semi-finals |
| 2 | Argentina | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 93 | 109 | −16 | 14 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 11 | |
| 3 | Wales | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 83 | 94 | −11 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 6 | Advance to Fifth-Place Semi-finals |
| 4 | Spain | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 66 | 117 | −51 | 8 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Advance to Ninth-Place Semi-finals |
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: World Rugby
| 29 June 2025 18:00 CEST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) France | 49–11 | Spain |
| Try: Baret (2) 7' c, 49' c Britz 16' c Sanson 36' c Akrab 55' c Tilloles 68' c Leveque 80' c Con: Keletaona (5/5) 8', 17', 37', 50' 56' Jurd (2/2) 69', 80' | Report | Try: González 58' m Pen: Otamendi (2/2) 5', 11' |
| Payanini Center, Verona Referee: Filippo Russo (Italy) |
| 29 June 2025 20:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) Argentina | 34–27 | Wales (1 BP) |
| Try: Ledesma 15' c Rapetti (2) 32' m, 43' m Silva 34' c Garcia 77' c Con: Benedit (3/5) 15', 35', 78' Pen: Benedit (1/1) 53' | Report | Try: Penalty try 3' Emanuel 24' c Minto 28' c Con: Ford (2/2) 25', 29' Pen: Ford (2/2) 21', 50' |
| Payanini Center, Verona Referee: Griffin Colby (South Africa) |
| 4 July 2025 15:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) France | 35–21 | Wales |
| Try: Tilloles 3' c Njocke 53' c Daunivucu 56' c Mousques 62' c Bissu 70' c Con: Jurd (5/5) 4', 54', 57', 63', 71' | Report | Try: Scott 9' c Bowen 14' c Woods 17' c Con: Wilde (3/3) 9', 15', 18' |
| Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo Referee: Morgan White (Hong Kong China) |
| 4 July 2025 20:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) Argentina | 33–30 | Spain (2 BP) |
| Try: Penalty try 24' Otano (2) 50' m, 59' c Coll 55' c Galvan 65' c Con: Senillosa (3/4) 56', 60', 66' | Report | Try: Ortega 4' m Garcia (2) 27' c, 38' c Richardis 35' m Con: Infer (2/3) 27', 39' Pen: Infer (2/2) 20', 22' |
| Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland) |
| 9 July 2025 15:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) Wales | 35–25 | Spain |
| Try: Penalty try 7' Wood 17' c James 51' c Davies 61' c Woods 70' c Con: Wilde (4/4) 18', 52', 62', 71' | Report | Try: Garcia 24' c McNamee 32' m Lendinez 67' c Con: Infer (1/2) 24' Otamendi (1/1) 67' Pen: Infer (2/2) 5', 10' |
| Payanini Center, Verona Referee: Lex Weiner (United States) |
| 9 July 2025 20:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) France | 52–26 | Argentina (1 BP) |
| Try: Njocke 2' c Donguy 6' c Akrab 10' c Leveque 13' m Ibsaiene (2) 31' c, 34' m Gourgues 57' c Baret 60' c Con: Keletaona (6/8) 3', 7', 11', 32', 58', 61' | Report | Try: Ledesma 23' c Rapetti 46' c Coll 53' m Otano 73' c Con: Senillosa (3/4) 24', 47', 74' |
| Payanini Center, Verona Referee: Marcus Playle (New Zealand) |
Pool C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 121 | 46 | +75 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 14 | Advance to Semi-finals |
| 2 | Italy | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 49 | −7 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | Advance to Fifth-Place Semi-finals |
| 3 | Ireland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 73 | 115 | −42 | 10 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 6 | Advance to Ninth-Place Semi-finals |
| 4 | Georgia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 66 | 92 | −26 | 10 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: World Rugby
| 29 June 2025 18:00 CEST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) Ireland | 35–28 | Georgia (2 BP) |
| Try: Farrell (2) 2' m, 42' m Walker 23' c Ronan 52' c Molony 61' m Con: Wood (2/5) 24', 53' Pen: Wood (2/3) 10', 33' | Report | Try: Margvelashvili 16' c Spanderashvili (2) 31' c, 50' c Kheladze 81' c Con: Takaishvili (4/4) 17', 31', 51', 82' |
| Stadio San Michele, Calvisano Referee: Jérémy Rozier (France) |
| 29 June 2025 20:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| New Zealand | 14–5 | Italy |
| Try: Letiu 8' c Pledger 39' c Con: Cole (2/2) 9', 40' | Report | Try: Beni 44' m |
| Stadio San Michele, Calvisano Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland) |
| 4 July 2025 18:00 CEST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) New Zealand | 38–19 | Georgia |
| Try: Saunoa (2) 15' c, 21' m Treacy 24' c Oudenryn 33' c Vakasiuola 39' m Kunawave 46' c Con: Simpson (4/6) 16', 25', 34', 47' | Report | Try: Kheladze 9' c Shioshvili 18' c Khakhubia 55' m Con: Takaishvili (2/3) 10', 19' |
| Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana Referee: Filippo Russo (Italy) |
| 4 July 2025 20:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) Ireland | 16–18 | Italy |
| Try: Yarr 63' m Minogue 80+1' m Pen: Wood (2/2) 25', 52' | Report | Try: Casartelli 12' m Gritti 59' c Con: Todaro (1/1) 60' Pen: Todaro (2/3) 36', 72' |
| Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales) |
| 9 July 2025 18:00 CEST (UTC+02) |
| (1 BP) New Zealand | 69–22 | Ireland |
| Try: Bason 11' c Treacy 21' c Roberts 26' m Cole 30' m Pledger (2) 33' c, 43' c Vaenuku 41' m Kempton (2) 48' c, 80' m Kunawave (2) 67' c, 80+2' c Con: Cole (6/10) 11', 22', 34', 44', 49', 80+3' Simpson (1/1) 67' | Report | Try: Minogue 3' c Green 7' m Bohan 75' c Con: Wood (1/2) 4' Wisniewski (1/1) 75' Pen: Wood (1/1) 20' |
| Stadio San Michele, Calvisano Referee: Griffin Colby (South Africa) |
| 9 July 2025 20:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| Georgia | 19–19 | Italy |
| Try: Khakhubia 33' m Spanderashvili 46' c Shioshvili 80' c Con: Takaishvili (2/3) 47', 80' | Report | Try: Zanandrea 13' m Casartelli 37' c Todaro 80+5' c Con: Todaro (2/3) 38', 80+6' |
| Stadio San Michele, Calvisano Referee: Katsuki Furuse (Japan) |
Seeding
| Pos | Team | P | W | Diff. | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa (A) | 3 | 3 | +125 | 15 |
| 2 | France (B) | 3 | 3 | +78 | 15 |
| 3 | New Zealand (C) | 3 | 3 | +75 | 14 |
| 4 | Argentina (B) | 3 | 2 | –16 | 11 |
| 5 | England (A) | 3 | 2 | +30 | 10 |
| 6 | Italy (C) | 3 | 1 | –7 | 6 |
| 7 | Australia (A) | 3 | 1 | –49 | 7 |
| 8 | Wales (B) | 3 | 1 | –11 | 6 |
| 9 | Ireland (C) | 3 | 1 | –42 | 6 |
| 10 | Georgia (C) | 3 | 0 | –26 | 4 |
| 11 | Spain (B) | 3 | 0 | –51 | 2 |
| 12 | Scotland (A) | 3 | 0 | –106 | 1 |
Updated to match(es) played on 9 July 2025. Source: World Rugby
Knockout stage
Ninth-place bracket
| Semi-finals | Ninth-place Final | |||||
| 14 July – Verona | ||||||
| Ireland | ||||||
| 19 July – Calvisano | ||||||
| Scotland | ||||||
| 14 July – Verona | ||||||
| Georgia | ||||||
| Spain | ||||||
| Third place | ||||||
| 19 July – Calvisano | ||||||
Ninth-place Semi-finals
| 14 July 2025 15:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| Georgia | v | Spain |
| Payanini Center, Verona Referee: Morgan White (Hong Kong China) |
| 14 July 2025 18:00 CEST (UTC+02) |
| Ireland | v | Scotland |
| Payanini Center, Verona Referee: Filippo Russo (Italy) |
Eleventh-place Final
Ninth-place Final
Fifth-place bracket
| Semi-finals | Fifth-place Final | |||||
| 14 July – Viadana | ||||||
| England | ||||||
| 19 July – Rovigo | ||||||
| Wales | ||||||
| 14 July – Verona | ||||||
| Italy | ||||||
| Australia | ||||||
| Third place | ||||||
| 19 July – Rovigo | ||||||
Fifth-place Semi-finals
| 14 July 2025 15:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| England | v | Wales |
| Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland) |
| 14 July 2025 20:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| Italy | v | Australia |
| Payanini Center, Verona Referee: Tomas Bertazza (Argentina) |
Seventh-place Final
Fifth-place Final
Finals bracket
| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| 14 July – Viadana | ||||||
| South Africa | ||||||
| 19 July – Rovigo | ||||||
| Argentina | ||||||
| 14 July – Viadana | ||||||
| France | ||||||
| New Zealand | ||||||
| Third place | ||||||
| 19 July – Calvisano | ||||||
Semi-finals
| 14 July 2025 18:00 CEST (UTC+02) |
| France | v | New Zealand |
| Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana Referee: Katsuki Furuse (Japan) |
| 14 July 2025 20:30 CEST (UTC+02) |
| South Africa | v | Argentina |
| Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana Referee: Jérémy Rozier (France) |
Third-place Final
Final
Notes
- ^ In 2024, Scotland were competing in the second-tier youth rugby competition, World Rugby Under 20 Trophy. They won the tournament, which gained them promotion to the World Rugby U20 Championship.
References
- ^ "Mondiale U20, aperta la biglietteria per "Italia 2025"" [U20 World Cup, ticket office for "Italy 2025" open]. federugby.it (in Italian). Italian Rugby Federation. 8 May 2025.
- ^ "World Rugby U20 Championship 2025". world.rugby. World Rugby. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "World Rugby U20 Championship". world.rugby. World Rugby. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "Italy excited to host rugby's next generation with World Rugby U20 Championship 2025". world.rugby. World Rugby. 14 March 2025.
- ^ Morgan, Charlie (20 July 2024). "Bruising England physically dominate France to be crowned Under-20 world champions". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024.
- ^ "England overpower France to win Under-20 World Cup". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ Meagher, Gerard (20 July 2024). "England dominate France to claim fourth World Rugby under-20 title". The Guardian.
- ^ "Match official panel announced as anticipation builds for World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 in Italy". World Rugby. 29 May 2025.