The second version of the southern hemisphere match will convey collectively the very best younger rugby stars from South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina, and Australia, with double-headers happening on 1, 6 and 11 Might on the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Final 12 months’s inaugural Rugby Champs U20 on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia was an enormous success. New Zealand edged out the Junior Boks for the title after ending the match unbeaten, following up a draw with South Africa within the first spherical with subsequent victories over Argentina and Australia.
With the World Rugby U20 Championship happening in Italy in July, the Rugby Championship U20 would be the excellent springboard for the SANZAAR groups. The format stays the identical, with all groups taking part in one another as soon as in a three-match spherical robin throughout three match days.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer believes the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole will probably be a superb host for the second version of the match.
“We’re thrilled to convey this match to Gqeberha, a metropolis with a wealthy rugby tradition and a passionate fan base and we’re very grateful for the help from the Jap Cape authorities on this regard,” mentioned Oberholzer.
“The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium gives top-class group amenities and an distinctive viewing expertise for followers, making it the right venue for this occasion.
“The mixture of top-notch amenities and lodging, coupled with the enthusiastic assist of the Jap Cape authorities and the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole, will undoubtedly create a memorable expertise for everybody concerned. Along with the Pleasant Metropolis, we’re wanting ahead to welcoming and internet hosting the very best U20s from the southern hemisphere within the Jap Cape.”
The MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Tradition, Ms Sibulele Ngongo, expressed her gratitude to SA Rugby for his or her partnership in bringing the Rugby Championship U20 Match to the Jap Cape.
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
“This can be a landmark second for the Dwelling of Legends because the Junior Springboks will probably be taking part in for the primary time in historical past within the Jap Cape Province”, mentioned MEC Ngongo.
SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris acknowledged: “Following the success of the inaugural match in Queensland, Australia in 2024 SANZAAR is happy to announce that the U20 Championship will head to South Africa this 12 months. Final 12 months the title went all the way down to the final spherical and we witnessed some very aggressive and absorbing rugby.
“This essential Championship, to be performed on the Nelson Mandela Might Stadium in Gqeberha, is not going to solely present an important pathway for up-and-coming rugby expertise by way of publicity to important worldwide competitors however will even present improvement alternatives for the subsequent technology of coaches, group administration and match officers.
“SANZAAR sincerely thanks SA Rugby, that has a superb fame for internet hosting such occasions, for its assist of the Championship, and particularly to the Jap Cape Authorities who’re offering invaluable help with the staging of the match.”
Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote mentioned: “We’re completely thrilled that the U20 Rugby Championship will probably be hosted on dwelling soil this 12 months. It’s a uncommon and particular alternative for the Junior Boks to play in entrance of our passionate dwelling followers right here in South Africa and this match is essential for our preparations forward of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy.
“We stay up for testing ourselves in opposition to the very best younger rugby gamers within the southern hemisphere and we hope the Jap Cape followers will come out in numbers to assist us.”
Tickets are priced at R20 per particular person and will probably be out there on the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium ticket workplace or on-line from Webtickets. Broadcast data will probably be introduced in the end.
Fixtures:
Thursday, 1 Might
14h00: New Zealand v Australia
16h10: Junior Boks v Argentina
Tuesday, 6 Might
14h00: New Zealand v Argentina
16h10: Junior Boks v Australia
Sunday, 11 Might
14h00: Argentina v Australia
16h10: Junior Boks v New Zealand
