The World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 gets underway in South Africa from 24 June – 14 July and is set to feature smart ball technology and a TMO bunker to assist match officiating.
The opening match-day of the U20 Championship falls on an important day in South African rugby history – the 28th anniversary of their first Rugby World Cup triumph in 1995. The tournament is the first since France lifted the U20 Championship in 2019.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “The U20 Championship makes a highly symbolic return to South Africa 11 years after the last edition organised in the country; a tournament that the Junior Springboks won on home soil and which the next generation will strive to emulate.
We wish all the participating teams the best in their preparations and look forward to seeing all teams in South Africa next month for a fantastic showcase of rugby.”
World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 Venues
We reported a while back on the confirmed teams and pools for the World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 but there has been one change of venues as Athlone Stadium in Cape Town (premium 35,000-seater stadium) replaces Boland Stadium and will host pool matches as well as the tournament’s semi-finals and final.
Other venues remain as Paarl Gymnasium and Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said: “We are working closely with all relevant stakeholders to make this a truly unforgettable tournament for the players and the spectators, and we are looking forward to hosting the best under-20 players in the world next month, and welcoming their families, friends and fans to South Africa.”
World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 Pool & Knock-Out Matches
Each team will play three pool games between Saturday 24 June and 4 July 2023 before moving on to the semifinals and the final on 14 July 2023.
You can also find the World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 participating teams and pools here but Japan U20 fixtures at the U20 World Championships are:
- Matchday 1: Saturday 24 June – Pool Matches (Japan vs France – Pool A)
- Matchday 2: Thursday 29 June – Pool Matches (Japan vs Wales – Pool A)
- Matchday 3: Tuesday 4 July – Pool Matches (Japan vs New Zealand – Pool A)
- Matchday 4: Sunday 9 July- Knockout semifinals
- Matchday 5 (final): Friday 14 July
U20 Championship 2023 – Tech and Innovation
World Rugby is also trialling two new technologies to support officiating throughout the U20 Championship.
Rugby TMO Bunker
The TMO Bunker, which has been trialled during Super Rugby Pacific, will be further explored in South Africa to assist officiating, enhance game flow and advance player welfare and could be adopted for RWC 2023.
Rugby Smart Ball
World Rugby has also collaborated with Sportable and Gilbert to undertake the world’s first trial of smart ball technology in a live match officiating capacity at the U20 Championship.
The technology, which uses artificial intelligence (AI), “will help match officials to make accurate decisions more quickly, tackling a number of common, but challenging aspects of the law” said World Rugby.
World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 Match Officials
There are 13 U20 Championship match officials from 11 nations selected.
Hollie Davidson (Scotland) will become the first female official to referee at the U20 Championship. Takehito Namekawa (JRFU), a former scrum-half who played for Japan in the 2009 and 2010 tournaments, returns in a match officiating capacity.
U20 Championship panel:
Luc Ramos (France), Angus Mabey (New Zealand), Reuben Keane (Australia), Ben Breakspear (Wales), Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Eoghan Cross (Ireland), Anthony Woodthorpe (England), Takehito Namekawa (Japan), Morne Ferreira (South Africa), Damian Schneider (Argentina), Matteo Liperini (Italy, TMO), Ben Blain (Scotland, TMO), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa, TMO).
World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 Tickets and Streaming
Tickets for the U20 Rugby Championship will go on sale on 31 May through Ticketmaster from R35 (children under 12) and R55 (general public).
There currently is no streaming information from World Rugby.
Th U20 Trophy takes place from 15-30 July 2023 in Kenya and includes Hong Kong China as the Asian representation.
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