World Rugby confirmed that Italy will host the World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 from 29 June-19 July with fixtures to be held in four cities across the Lombardia and Veneto regions. There is sadly no Asian representation and there is no World Rugby Trophy U20 tournament planned in 2025 due to alleged cost-cutting measures.
This will be the third time Italy will host the tournament but the first time in ten years that the event returns to Italian soil when New Zealand beat England in the 2015 title decider in Cremona.
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: “The World Rugby U20 Championship represents the pinnacle of age-grade rugby, showcasing the next generation of international stars before they reach the highest level.”
More than 1,000 players have graduated from the U20 Championships to play test rugby since the tournament was first held in 2008, including 32 Rugby World Cup winners and the last five World Rugby Men’s 15s Players of the Year.
England are the defending champions, having beaten three-time winners France 21-13 in the 2024 final in Cape Town. Scotland returns to the U20 Championship for the first time since 2019 after winning last year’s U20 Trophy on home soil – neither Japan nor Hong Kong China qualified from the Trophy tournament.
Image Credit – World Rugby
World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 Format
The 15th edition of the World Rugby U20 Championship will be staged in Calvisano, Rovigo, Verona and Viadana with matches taking place across the three rounds of pool matches on 29 June, 4 and 9 July 2025.
The knockout stages take place on 14 July with finals day taking place on 19 July to determine the final placings of the 12 teams. The final will be held at Stadio Maria Battaglini in Rovigo.
Antonella Gualandri, Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR) Vice-President and Organising Committee Chairman, said: “The U20 Championship is the ultimate platform for the future stars of international rugby and hosting the very best prospects of the game will not only bring some spectacular action to our passionate fans in northern Italy but will also grant a solid legacy to our grassroots clubs, who can’t wait to host the teams at their training facilities, establish relations and make memories that will last forever.
Calvisano, Viadana and Rovigo have already successfully hosted the World Rugby U20 Championship back in 2011 and 2015 and they will be formidable venues for the teams, as will be Verona, a newcomer set for its debut as an international venue with its brand-new Payanini Center. The stage is set for an event the players, the teams, volunteers and our youngsters will never forget.”
Kick-off times are still to be finalised, and the full match schedule will be confirmed in due course.
Photo Credit – World Rugby
- Date: 29 June-19 July 2025
- Stadiums: Stadio San Michele (Calvisano), Stadio Mario Battaglini (Rovigo), Payanini Center (Verona), Stadio Luigi Zaffanella (Viadana).
Pool matches
- Matchday 1: Sunday, 29 June (Calvisano and Verona)
- Matchday 2: Friday, 4 July (Rovigo and Viadana)
- Matchday 3: Wednesday, 9 July (Calvisano and Verona)
Playoffs
- Matchday 4: Monday, 14 July (Verona and Viadana)
- Matchday 5 (final and ranking matches): Saturday, 19 July (Calvisano and Rovigo)
World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 Pools
Pool A
- England (1)
- Australia (6)
- South Africa (7)
- Scotland (12)
SA Rugby’s Junior Boks side was ranked 7th for the draw and are in Pool A with 2024 champions, England, as well as Australia and Scotland. Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote said, “It is very exciting news and will be a great opportunity for us to play in Italy during the (European) summer months. England and Scotland would have had great preparations through the U20 Six Nations, while Australia will no doubt be using the U20 Rugby Championship to gear up for Italy.”
Pool B
- France (2)
- Argentina (5)
- Wales (8)
- Spain (11)
Pool C
- New Zealand (3)
- Ireland (4)
- Georgia (9)
- Italy (10)
Current Italy senior Men’s captain Michele Lamaro captained the Azzurrini U20 to eighth place in 2018 and said, “The World Rugby U20 Championship is one of the first, most defining moments a young player can face at the international level. It is a lifetime experience. You’re away from home for a long time and you can develop yourself both as a player and as a human being, playing alongside your best peers in the world and creating life-lasting bonds.
I lived the World Rugby U20 Championship with many team-mates with whom I’m currently playing on the test arena, and we all have such pleasant memories of the competition. I encourage all the players that will showcase their talents in the Championship to fully embrace the moment, as it will be a crucial milestone both in their career and their lives.”
How To Watch World Rugby U20 Championship 2025
In previous years, World Rugby has streamed the U20 Championships on RugbyPassTV for free in most regions and will do so again in 2025.
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