The South Africa national under-20 rugby union team (nicknamed the Junior Boks or the Baby Boks) are South Africa's junior team at national level. They have been competing in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship (formerly the IRB Junior World Championship) since its inception in 2008. This Under-20 tournament replaced the previously-held Under-19 and Under-21 Rugby World Championships. Prior to 2018, it had been the country's "next senior" (second-level) 15-man national side, but World Rugby no longer allows member unions to designate age-grade sides as "next senior" teams. The Junior Boks also compete in the U20 Rugby Championship which first started in 2024. The Junior Boks are currently the holders of both the World Rugby U20 Championship and the U20 Rugby Championship. They were also named the unanimous winners of the 2026 Under-20 International Series which was hosted in South Africa in May 2026. The Junior Springboks beat France U20 to claim their back to back title in 2026.
On 21 May 2026, The Junior Springboks "ripped through their opponents’ defence", after defeating the Chile U20 side 97-00 at the 2026 U20 International series, tying their largest winning margin which was previously against the USA U20 side which they won 97-00 as well back in 2013.
Combined Rankings Head to Head Below shows the South African Under-20's head-to-head record against other national teams in all U20 formats since inception.
South Africa U20 have played a total of 114 different U20 International matches since 2008. The Baby boks have played against 19 different nations, recording 85 wins, 3 draws and 26 defeats, giving them an overall win percentage of 75%.
*Stats correct as of 20 July 2026
Combined Records The table below shows the combined statistics of the Junior Boks results by year:
*Stats correct as of 20 July 2026 South Africa U20 All Time Record Year P W D L PF PA PD W% 2008 5 4 0 1 257 76 +181 80% 2009 5 4 0 1 197 85 +112 80% 2010 5 3 0 2 182 114 +68 60% 2011 5 4 0 1 256 84 +172 80% 2012 5 4 0 1 156 60 +196 80% 2013 6 5 0 1 309 122 +187 83% 2014 5 4 0 1 167 83 +84 80% 2015 7 6 0 1 234 122 +112 86% 2016 5 2 0 3 148 157 -9 40% 2017 5 3 1 1 192 90 +102 60% 2018 7 5 0 2 230 169 +61 71% 2019 10 7 0 3 348 210 +138 70% 2020 No results due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 4 4 0 0 131 45 +86 100% 2022 4 4 0 0 152 100 +52 100% 2023 5 3 0 2 117 119 -2 60% 2024 8 3 1 4 214 185 +29 38% 2025 10 8 0 2 471 237 +234 80% 2026 13 12 1 0 697 198 +499 100% Total 114 85 3 26 4,453 2,256 +2,197 75%
World Rugby Head to Head The following table summarises South Africa Under-20's head-to-head record against other national teams in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship. The Junior Springboks have historically been one of the strongest sides in the competition, regularly advancing to the knockout stages and claiming the title on multiple occasions in 2012, 2025 & 2026.
South Africa have played 80 matches in the tournament against 16 different nations, recording 58 wins, 1 draw and 21 defeats, giving them an overall win percentage of 73%. Their strongest records are against Fiji, Georgia, Scotland, Samoa, Tonga, Japan, Uruguay and the United States, against whom they maintain unbeaten records. Their most frequently played opponent is England, while they also share a long-standing competitive rivalry with New Zealand at Under-20 level.
*Stats correct as of 18 July 2026
Record South Africa Under-20 have participated in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship since 2008. The table below outlines their results by year:
*Stats correct as of 18 July 2026 South Africa – World Rugby U20 Championship record Year Host nation P W D L PF PA PD SF F Placing 2008 5 4 0 1 257 76 +181 L - 3rd place 2009 5 4 0 1 197 85 +112 L - 3rd place 2010 5 3 0 2 182 114 +68 L - 3rd place 2011 5 4 0 1 256 84 +172 - - 5th place 2012 5 4 0 1 156 60 +96 W W 1st place 2013 5 4 0 1 212 95 +117 L - 3rd place 2014 5 4 0 1 167 83 +84 W L 2nd place 2015 5 4 0 1 170 72 +98 L - 3rd place 2016 5 2 0 3 148 157 -9 L - 4th place 2017 5 3 1 1 192 90 +102 L - 3rd place 2018 5 3 0 2 163 152 +11 L - 3rd place 2019 5 4 0 1 164 92 +72 L - 3rd place 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2022 2022 U20 Summer Series 2023 5 3 0 2 117 119 -2 L - 3rd place 2024 5 2 0 3 152 120 +32 - - 7th place 2025 5 5 0 0 249 92 +157 W W 1st place 2026 5 5 0 0 258 87 +171 W W 1st place Total 80 58 1 21 3,040 1,578 +1,462 — Champions Runners-up Third place Home venue
Award winners The following South Africa U20s players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2008:
+ World Rugby Junior Player of the Year Year Nominees Winners 2012 Shaun Adendorff Jan Serfontein Jan Serfontein 2014 Handré Pollard Handré Pollard 2016 Curwin Bosch — 2017 Juarno Augustus Juarno Augustus 2019 Jaden Hendrikse —
Points Leaders
The table below highlights South Africa’s U20 top all-time points scorers in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship:
*Stats correct as of 19 August 2026
Most Points Scored Rank Name Points 1 Handre Pollard 141 2 Francois Brummer 105 3 Curwin Bosch 104 4 Johan Goosen 79 5 Patrick Lambie 75 6 Vusi Moyo 63 7 Brandon Thomson 59 8 Sias Ebersohn 50 9 Yaqeen Ahmed 46 10 Manie Libbok 4211Seabelo Senatla40Wandisile Simelane 13 Jaden Hendrikse 38 14 Jean Smith 3615Juarno Augustus35Arno BothaJesse KrielFrancois VenterWandile Mjekevu 20 Sanele Nohamba 33
Most Caps
The table below highlights South Africa’s U20 top all-time most capped players in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship:
*Stats correct as of 19 August 2026
Most Caps Rank Name Caps 1 Handre Pollard 142 CJ Stander10 Cheswill Jooste Wandisile Simelane Wandile Mjekevu Gianni Lombard Jurenzo Julius Asenathi Ntlabakanye Manie Libbok Zachary Porthen Batho Hlekani Warrick Gelant Carlü Sadie Kene Okafor15 Francois Brummer9 Curwin Bosch Jesse Kriel Francois Venter Thomas du Toit Jacobus Grobbelaar 21 Muller Uys8 Zain Davids Aidon Davids Siya Kolisi Paul Jordaan
Try Leaders
The table below highlights South Africa’s U20 top all-time tries scored in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship:
*Stats correct as of 19 August 2026
Most Tries Rank Name Tries Scored 1 Wandisile Simelane 82 Juarno Augustus7 Arno Botha Jesse Kriel Wandile Mjekevu Seabelo Senatla Francois Venter8 Robert Ebersohn6 Jurenzo Julius Manie Libbok Haashim Pead12 Lionel Cronje5 Lionel Mapoe Tshotsho Mbovane Siphosethu Mnebelele Khuthadzo Rasivhaga
Baby Boks World Cup statistics by year
Statistic 2026 2025 2024 2023 2019 Tries 37 34 22 15 22 Penalty tries 1 0 1 0 0 Conversions28 29 17 12 15 Penalty goals 5 7 2 6 7 Drop goals 0 0 0 0 1 Passes 695 470 613 507 465 Offloads 50 47 36 31 41 Clean breaks 21 28 13 12 15 Scrums29 37 39 31 39 Scrum %96% 93% 98% 95% 88% Lineouts75 53 65 50 51 Lineout %90% 80% 80% 74% 72% Tackles made644 693 681 649 783 Breakdowns471 352 508 407 442 Ball steals7 6 3 2 1 Forced penalties6 11 11 10 7 Yellow cards2 4 2 4 6 Red cards1 0 0 0 0 Penalties conceded46 59 57 67 55 Free kicks conceded7 4 4 2 5 General play kicks83 105 112 126 n/a
*Stats correct as of 19 August 2026
Rugby Championship The U20 Rugby Championship is the southern hemisphere’s premier age-grade international tournament, contested annually by the junior national sides of South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina. Functioning as the direct youth equivalent of the senior Rugby Championship, it mirrors the same four-nation format and competitive structure, with each team playing one another in a round-robin series to determine the champion.
Designed to replicate the intensity and standards of senior Test rugby, the competition is a key step in the development pathway for elite young players, often featuring athletes who progress directly into professional provincial rugby and ultimately senior international duty. For the Junior Springboks, it provides a crucial benchmark against the traditional southern hemisphere rivals and forms part of their preparation for the World Rugby U20 Championship.
Head to head *Stats correct as of 11 May 2026
Opposition P W D L PF PA PD % W 3 3 0 0 114 74 +40 % 3 1 0 2 99 70 +29 % 3 0 2 1 116 119 −3 % Total 9 4 2 3 300 261 95 %
Record The Junior Springboks have participated in the U20 Rugby Championship since 2024. The table below outlines their results by year:
*Stats correct as of 11 May 2026 South Africa – SANZAAR Rugby Championship Record Year Host nation P W D L PF PA PD Points Placing 2024 3 1 1 1 62 65 -3 7 Second place 2025 3 1 0 2 105 102 +3 6 Third place 2026 3 2 1 0 133 67 +66 13 First Place Total 9 4 2 3 300 234 66 —
Baby Boks TRC team statistics by year Since the U20 Rugby Championship (TRC U20) launched in 2024, the Junior Springboks have been competing in the southern hemisphere’s youth tournament. Competing against Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand, South Africa finally clinched their first title in 2026. They secured the championship on home soil at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium following a 29–29 draw against New Zealand in the final round. This section tracks the Junior Boks' team statistics, from their initial runner-up finish in 2024 to their eventual breakthrough as tournament champions.
Statistic 2026 2025 2024 Points for 133 105 62 Points against 67 102 65 Tries 20 15 8 Penalty tries 2 1 0 Conversions13 11 5 Penalty goals 1 2 4 Drop goals 0 0 0 Passes 390 344 243 Offloads 27 31 14 Clean breaks 14 13 4 Scrums17 15 23 Scrum %89% 100% 85% Lineouts43 28 29 Lineout %88% 80% 67% Tackles made509 500 396 Breakdowns239 262 238 Ball steals3 2 3 Forced penalties4 1 4 Yellow cards1 0 3 Red cards0 0 1 Penalties conceded33 29 31 Free kicks conceded2 1 2 General play kicks51 67 69
*Stats correct as of 12 May 2026
Points Leaders
The table below highlights South Africa’s U20 top all-time points scorers at the SANZAAR Under 20 Rugby Championship:
*Stats correct as of 11 May 2026
Most Points Scored Rank Name Points 1 Yaqeen Ahmed 35 2 Vusi Moyo 21 3 Jack Benade 20 4 Ethan Adams 15 5 Tyler Senior 13 6 Kyle Smith 11 T7 Litelihle Bester 10 T7 Demitre Erasmus 10 T7 Gino Cupido 10 T7 Haashim Pead 10 T7 Wandile Mlaba 10 T7 Hendre Schoeman 10 T7 Akahluwa Boqwana 10
Try Leaders
The table below highlights South Africa’s U20 top all-time tries scored in the SANZAAR Under 20 Rugby Championship:
*Stats correct as of 11 May 2026
Most Tries Rank Name Tries Scored 1 Jack Benade 4 2 Ethan Adams 3 T3 Demitre Erasmus 2 T3 Gino Cupido 2 T3 Haashim Pead 2 T3 Litelihle Bester 2 T3 Wandile Mlaba 2 T3 Yaqeen Ahmed 2 T3 Hendre Shoeman 2 T3 Akahluwa Boqwana 2
U20 International Series The U20 International series was created for international rugby union matches and friendly tournaments played by men's national teams under the age of 20. Originally launched by World Rugby in 2021 to provide match play after global pandemic cancellations, the series serves as a high-performance development platform.
Head to head *Stats correct as of 1 June 2026
Opposition P W D L PF PA PD % W 3 2 0 1 93 69 +24 % 3 3 0 0 157 24 +133 % 1 1 0 0 29 10 +19 % 1 1 0 0 97 0 +97 100% 1 1 0 0 82 25 +57 100% 1 1 0 0 50 08 +42 100% Total 10 9 0 1 508 136 +372 %
Record The Junior Springboks have participated in the U20 International Series since 2019. The table below outlines their results by year:
*Stats correct as of 15 June 2026 South Africa – U20 International Series Year Host nation P W D L PF PA PD 2019 3 2 0 1 141 52 +89 2021 4 4 0 0 131 45 +86 2026 3 3 0 0 236 39 +197 Total 10 9 0 1 508 136 +372
Points Leaders
The table below highlights South Africa’s U20 top all-time points scorers at the U20 International Series:
*Stats correct as of 15 June 2026
Most Points Scored Rank Name Points 1 Vusi Moyo 57 2 David Coetzer 28 T3 Luan Giliomee 25 T3 Francke Horn 25 5 Gert Kemp 20 6 Jordan Hendrikse 18 T7 Marnus Potgieter 15 T7 Risima Khosa 15 T7 Quintin Potgieter 15 T7 Andre-Hugo Venter 15 T7 Henco van Wyk 15 T7 Canan Moodie 15
Try Leaders