WR U20 Championship 2026

@Mauss said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

@Bovidae McLeod is a considerable loss, though. I'd like them to bring Fale into the starting team at No. 8: his fitness seems much better this year and he still brings plenty of impact into the carry. I think a Mauga/Woodley/Fale-trio would work quite well, although the lineout would depend on Mauga's ability in the set piece.

I think Tocker will take McLeod's place at 6. He is a very good lineout option.

Triumph Voice is an interesting inclusion. I wasn't expecting him to be included for NZ Schools last year and now he's in the U20s. Someone in NZ Rugby clearly rates him.

And IIRC didn't play because of injury.

@Bovidae said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

I think Tocker will take McLeod's place at 6. He is a very good lineout option.

I think that is the most likely option, yeah. But I'd worry about defensive cohesion. Tocker and Woodley don't strike me as a natural flanker combination. Mauga is, in my view, a more obvious foil to Woodley, the former heavily emphasizing the breakdown. Then again, it's been a while since I've seen Tocker play 15s, so maybe the sevens experience has made him more complete in that area.

And IIRC didn't play because of injury.

No, he didn't. I saw footage of him playing for Hastings Boys' a few times. Tall, athletic player with decent pace, not too dissimilar to someone like Tamati Tua I'd say. Should be interesting to see whether he's immediately parachuted into the 13-jersey, although I expect Pahulu to get first crack.

@Mauss said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

@Bovidae McLeod is a considerable loss, though. I'd like them to bring Fale into the starting team at No. 8: his fitness seems much better this year and he still brings plenty of impact into the carry. I think a Mauga/Woodley/Fale-trio would work quite well, although the lineout would depend on Mauga's ability in the set piece.

Lasaqa is quality so you'd think he'll take the 14 spot. Etuale has got good pace and great feet but he'll need to improve his defence. Against Australia U18 in 2025, he didn't seem too interested in tackling.

Triumph Voice is an interesting inclusion. I wasn't expecting him to be included for NZ Schools last year and now he's in the U20s. Someone in NZ Rugby clearly rates him.

Finn McLeod is a big loss. He was great with the hard carries and lineout against the Bok U20 team.

I wasn't overly impressed with Mauga TBH. I take it he's there as the power loose forward/ball carrier but seemed a bit "light" in the contact area. Micah Fale impressed when he came on but he's probably better suited to the impact role.

Aussies selecting players out of the French system now.

@mohikamo said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

Aussies selecting players out of the French system now.

They are big units too.

@TheMojoman said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

I wasn't overly impressed with Mauga TBH. I take it he's there as the power loose forward/ball carrier but seemed a bit "light" in the contact area. Micah Fale impressed when he came on but he's probably better suited to the impact role.

Yeah, I'm not sure Mauga is really suited to that primary carrying role, he seemed a little loose with some of those carries during the U20 TRC. I think he might be more suited to 6: decent defender, good at the breakdown, solid work rate. Could be a good glue guy in a loose forward trio.

My guess is Fale ended up on the bench last year because his fitness wasn't up to scratch. It was pretty noticeable playing for the NZ U20s in 2025 (and in '24 as well, playing for the NZ U18 Baabaas), he would get gassed pretty quickly. To me, his fitness looks a lot better this year, so I'd be intrigued to see how long he can last out there as a starter.

His defensive work rate can still be a bit iffy but I think, with McLeod being out, the team needs a dominant ball carrier in the pack. Having Leota helps but you'd think Findlay will still start after putting in solid performances in South Africa.

Are there any u20 kiwis overseas of note?

@hurrdurrr said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

Are there any u20 kiwis overseas of note?

Pyrenees Boyle-Tiatia went to Bayonne. He might still have been eligible this year. I'm not sure when he turned 20.

They have added other ball-carriers to the squad in Tocker and Hutchings. My concern is that there isn't really another specialist 7 if Woodley got injured.

The Junior Springboks squad to represent South Africa at the 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship in Georgia was announced by SA U20 head coach Kevin Foote on Friday, with seven players from last year’s successful campaign in Italy included in the group.
South Africa will defend their title at the global showpiece, which takes place in Georgia from 27 June to 18 July.

Captain Riley Norton (lock), Oliver Reid, Rambo Kubheka (props), Siphosethu Mnebelele (hooker), Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), Cheswill Jooste (wing), and Alzeadon Felix (fullback) were all part of the SA U20 side that won last year’s world championship in Italy.

Ten members of the JWC squad were included in the wider Springbok group for the Barbarians fixture and the SA ‘A’ match against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha on 20 June, while Cheswill Jooste remains with the Vodacom Bulls, who have qualified for the next Friday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final.

The Junior Bok squad consists entirely of players who have attended previous training camps in Stellenbosch, as well as the recent U20 International Series and the SANZAAR U20 Rugby Championship, both of which were won by South Africa.

Norton is one of the players included in the wider Springbok group, along with Reid and Danie Kruger (props); Mnebelele and Liam van Wyk (hookers); Moyo (flyhalf); Yaqeen Ahmed (flyhalf/centre); Luan Giliomee (utility back); Markus Muller (centre); and Zekhethelo Siyaya (fullback). They will join the Junior Bok squad as soon as they are released from senior national duty.

Muller and Siyaya are joined by seven other players in the squad who are still U19 and eligible to play in next year’s JWC as well. They are Jordan Jooste and Luan van der Berg (props), Jaythen Orange (lock), Gert Kemp and Wasi Vyambwera (loose forwards), Ethan Adams (centre), and Jordan Steenkamp (wing).

Junior Boks’ 2026 World Junior Championship squad:

Props: Oliver Reid (DHL Stormers), Rambo Kubheka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jordan Jooste (DHL Stormers), Danie Kruger (DHL Stormers), Luan van der Berg (Vodacom Bulls).

Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Liam van Wyk (Hollywoodbets Sharks).

Locks: Heinrich Theron (Vodacom Bulls), Jaythen Orange (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Riley Norton (captain, DHL Stormers), JD Hattingh (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).

Loose forwards: Kebotile Maake (Vodacom Bulls), Risima Khosa (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Luke Cannon (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Wasi Vyambwera (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vuyo Gwiji (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Gert Kemp (DHL Stormers), Thomas Beling (Fidelity Securedrive Lions)*.

Scrumhalves: Hendré Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls), Jayden Brits (DHL Stormers).

Flyhalves: Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL Stormers), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks).

Centres: Ethan Adams (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Samuel Badenhorst (DHL Stormers), Markus Muller (DHL Stormers).

Outside and utility backs: Luan Giliomee (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheswill Jooste (Vodacom Bulls), Jack Benade (DHL Stormers), Jordan Steenkamp (DHL Stormers)*, Zekhethelo Siyaya (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Alzeadon Felix (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).

** Final inclusion pending the availability of players currently on senior duty.*

Mnebelele replaces Norton as Junior Bok captain to Georgia | SA Rugby https://share.google/6rD9xnjmB4qgT9xv2

Holy Moly

Is this a warm up,game ?

@Steven-Harris said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

Is this a warm up,game ?

Yes. The tournament starts on Sat. NZ play Japan at 11:30 pm NZT.

@Crazy-Horse Yep. Looks like they were playing footy too.