The 12 best U20 sides in the world will return to South Africa in June after World Rugby announced today that the 2024 U20 World Championship will again be hosted in the Western Cape.

The championship will be played over five match days in Stellenbosch and Cape Town, with the participating teams grouped into three pools of four. Three-time consecutive winners France are in Pool A with New Zealand, Wales and Spain, who will make their debut after winning the World Rugby U20 Trophy in 2023.

After claiming the bronze medal with a superb defensive and forward display last year, the Junior Springboks will look to impress again on home soil and face England, Argentina and Fiji in Pool C, while 2023 runners-up Ireland, Australia, Georgia and Italy make up Pool B.

The first round is on Saturday, June 29, and the final will be played at Cape Town Stadium on July 19.

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said South Africa is looking forward to welcoming back the world’s best young players to the Western Cape.

“We have a proud history of successfully staging world-class events and we are extremely proud to be hosting the World Rugby U20 Championship for a second successive year in the Western Cape,” said Oberholzer.

“Despite the challenging weather we experienced at times during last winter’s successful tournament, our enthusiastic rugby supporters truly showed their passion for the game and eagerness to see the world’s best young players in action by turning out in numbers in Stellenbosch, Paarl and Cape Town.”

Oberholzer said planning for the tournament with World Rugby and key stakeholders is already well-advanced: “We are determined to improve on last year’s event and to present a memorable, world-class tournament that players, match officials and rugby fans – locals and from abroad – will thoroughly enjoy.”

World Rugby U20 Championship 2024

Date: June 29 to July 19

Venues: Danie Craven Stadium (Stellenbosch), Athlone Stadium, DHL Stadium (both in Cape Town)

Pools (with 2023 ranking in brackets)

Pool A: France (1), Wales (6), New Zealand (7), Spain (12)

Pool B: Ireland (2), Australia (5), Georgia (8), Italy (11)

Pool C: South Africa (3), England (4), Argentina (9), Fiji (10)

Pool matches

Match day 1: Saturday, June 29

Match day 2: Thursday, July 4

Match day 3: Tuesday, July 9

Play-off matches

Match day 4: Sunday, July 14

Match day 5: Friday, July 19 (final and ranking matches)