The World Rugby U20 Challenger Cup 2026 will be hosted in Santiago, Chile, from 2-17 October at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento (CAR) sports complex, with 8 nations involved, including Hong Kong China.
Photo Credit – Rugby Chile – Team Captains
This tournament has really been flying under the radar, and there has been scant little information (nor is there any official website).
In April 2025, Chile announced it would host a new World Rugby U20 Challenger Cup, and there was little news for 15 months.
However, Hong Kong China said in May 2026 that they would be looking to send a Men’s U20s team to compete, and the competing teams, dates and venue were finally announced via individual unions.
Since then, the pools were confirmed, and the only Asian team in the tournament will face the hosts Chile, as well as Brazil and Romania in Pool A.
Several unions (and a few media outlets) have since been drip-feeding information such as pools and announced squads, but more reliable information has now been posted by Chile Rugby and Sudamérica Rugby official social channels.
World Rugby has not clarified the promotion/relegation pathway between the World Junior Championship and Challenger Cup or if one exists.
Competing Nations – World Rugby U20 Challenger Cup 2026 Pools
Pool A
- Chile
- Hong Kong China
- Brazil
- Romania
Pool B
- Canada
- Namibia
- Belgium
- Portugal
World Rugby U20 Challenger Cup 2026 Fixtures
Information on the tickets for the matches can be found here. (All times shown are local Chilean times)
2 October 2026
- Romania 27-26 Brazil 10AM
- Namibia 5-96 Canada 1PM
- Belgium 22-15 Portugal 4PM
- Hong Kong China 19-83 Chile 7PM
7 October 2026
- Namibia vs Portugal 10AM
- Hong Kong China U20 vs Brazil 1PM
- Belgium vs Canada 4PM
- Chile vs Romania 7PM
12 October 2026
- Hong Kong China U20 vs Romania 10AM
- Canada vs Portugal 1PM
- Belgium vs Namibia 4PM
- Chile vs Brazil 7PM
Placement matches – 17 October 2026
- 4th Group A vs 4ht Group B 10AM
- 3rd Group A vs 3rd Group B 1PM
- 2nd Group A vs 2nd Group B 4PM
- 1st Group A vs 1st Group B 7PM
Confirmed Squads – World Rugby U20 Challenger Cup 2026
Hong Kong China U20 Squad
There is no announced squad yet, but a U20 team did play Kowloon in a hit-out match in September as both sides prepare for upcoming tournaments and leagues.
Head Coach Sian Moore said, “We have a high volume of our Performance Academy players, from both the Hysan Youth Academy and our Hong Kong Sports Institute Academy. We’re also fortunate to include some of our overseas-based performance players, as well as a good balance of experienced players and new caps, which provides a great mix of experience and freshness.”
On the style of rugby they want to play, Moore added, “We have dynamic players that are able to keep the ball alive and play with high tempo. The squad have a rounded skill set that suits the Hong Kong style of play.”
HKCR did compete at World Rugby’s U20 Trophy (previously the Junior World Trophy), which was last played in 2024 and finished in 7th place.
Portugal U20 Squad
Chile U20 Squad
Canada U20 Squad
Canada Rugby announced their U20 training squad, but we have not yet seen a final touring team.
Brazil U20 Squad
The team is known as the Os Curumins, and defeated Paraguay 27-24 to qualify for the 2026 World Rugby U20 Challenger Cup.
Brasil Rugby announced that Head Coach Leandro Gevaerd held a training camp in September with 35 under-20 players.
Namibia U20 Squad
The African representation recently played in the U20 Barthés Trophy, which was held from 7 to 15 August 2026 at Mutesa II Stadium in Kampala, Uganda. In the Performance Division, they beat Tunisia 11-6 in the semifinal before losing to Kenya 17-33 in the final.
Romania U20 Squad
Rugby Romania also announced a wider training squad which would assemble on September 20 before heading to Chile on September 28.
Răzvan Popovici, the head coach of Romania U20s said, “We will have a week of preparation before the tournament in Chile, and I hope that the athletes have understood the importance of this stage. Those who are engaged in their teams’ championship matches know that they have been constantly preparing, and those who have just started collective training with their U20 teams, I hope, are aware of the effort they have to make.
A very difficult tournament awaits us, we expect physical matches, but it helps us see what our level is at the moment and then be able to make the necessary adjustments for the European Championship in November. There is competition at every position, which can only make us happy, the group that will travel will be of 30 athletes and the best and fittest players will go.”
Belgium U20 Squad
The Belgian U20s played the Czech Republic (Czechia) at the end of August.
How To Watch The World Rugby U20 Challenger Cup 2026
Depending on your region, the matches have appeared on RugbyPassTV for streaming.
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