Rugby
Gqeberha to host 2025 U20 Rugby Championship─── MORGAN PIEK 09:42 Wed, 16 Apr 2025

SA Rugby has confirmed that the 2025 U20 Rugby Championship will be held in South Africa next month.
Gqeberha will host the second edition of the tournament, which features the junior teams of South Africa, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.
The previous edition was held in Australia and won by New Zealand, in conditions that proved challenging for players across all teams.
Jurenzo Julies. Photo: Carl Fourie/World Rugby
The tournament will once again prove invaluable in the Junior Springboks’ preparations for the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship, which will be staged in the Lombardia and Veneto regions of Italy from 29 June to 19 July.
All six matches will be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Junior Springbok head coach, Kevin Foote, says they are thrilled to be hosting the tournament on home soil and are eager to make the most of the local support.
“We are absolutely thrilled that the U20 Rugby Championship will be hosted on home soil this year,” said Foote.
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips. Photo: EJ Langner/World Rugby
“It’s a rare and special opportunity for the Junior Boks to play in front of our passionate home fans here in South Africa, and this tournament is crucial for our preparations ahead of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy.
“We’re looking forward to testing ourselves against the best young rugby players in the southern hemisphere, and we hope the Eastern Cape fans will come out in their numbers to support us.”
The action kicks off on 1 May, with New Zealand taking on Australia at 14:00, followed by the Junior Boks facing Argentina at 16:10.