The 2013 IRB Junior World Championship was the sixth, IRB Junior World Championship, an annual international rugby union competition for Under 20 national teams. The event was organised in France by rugby's governing body, the IRB. A total of twelve nations played in the tournament. South Africa went into the tournament as defending champions, after winning the tournament for the first time in 2012. England were crowned the 2013 champions for the first time after defeating Wales 23–15 in the final on the 23 June at Stade de la Rabine in Vannes.
After finishing last at the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship, Italy were relegated to the IRB Junior World Trophy and therefore didn't participate in this year's event. After finishing first at the 2012 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy, the United States were promoted to this competition for 2013. Their stay in the IRB Junior World Championship was short-lived, however, as they lost in the 11th-place final to Fiji 46–12 and were relegated to the IRB Junior World Trophy, being replaced for the 2014 competition by its winners Italy.
Venues The championship was held in La Roche-sur-Yon, Vannes and Nantes in France. In an effort to improve TV broadcasting for all matches, only three venues were used.
For the first time since the competitions inception, the final was contested by two northern hemisphere teams. Also for the first time New Zealand did not participate in the final.
PoolCityVenueCapacityPool A La Roche-sur-Yon Stade Henri Desgranges 10,000Pool B Vannes Stade de la Rabine 9,500Pool C Nantes Stade Pascal Laporte
Teams The following teams participated in the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship:
PoolTeamNo. of TournamentsPosition 2012Position 2013NotesA 57th1stChampionsA 56th5thA 51st3rdBronze Medal WinnerA 2DNP112thPromoted from 2012 IRB Junior World Rugby TrophyRelegated to 2014 IRB Junior World Rugby TrophyB58th7thB 511th11thB55th8thB 52nd4thC 54th6thC 410th9thC 59th10thC 53rd2ndRunners-up 1 were promoted from the 2012 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy.
Pool stage The following playing schedule was released in November 2012:
Key to colours in group tablesTeams advances to FinalsTeams in the 5–8th place play-offsTeams in the 9–12th place play-offs
All times are in Central European Summer Time (UTC+2).
Pool A TeamPldWDLTFPFPAPDBPPts 3 3 0 0 22 154 43 +111 1 13 3 2 0 1 23 163 37 +126 2 10 3 1 0 2 9 70 59 +11 2 6 3 0 0 3 0 3 251 −248 0 0
Pool B TeamPldWDLTFPFPAPDBPPts 3 3 0 0 13 104 42 +62 2 14 3 2 0 1 10 96 49 +47 2 10 3 1 0 2 10 71 45 +26 2 6 3 0 0 3 2 21 156 −135 0 0
Pool C TeamPldWDLTFPFPAPDBPPts 3 3 0 0 9 93 44 +49 1 13 3 2 0 1 9 92 54 +38 2 10 3 1 0 2 9 70 103 –33 2 6 3 0 0 3 6 52 106 –54 2 2
Pool stage rankings + Overall standingsPosTeamPldWDLTFPFPAPDBPPts 1 3 3 0 0 14 104 42 +62 2 14 2 3 3 0 0 22 154 43 +111 1 13 3 3 3 0 0 9 93 44 +49 1 13 4 3 2 0 1 23 163 37 +126 2 10 5 3 2 0 1 12 96 49 +47 2 10 6 3 2 0 1 9 92 53 +39 2 10 7 3 1 0 2 10 71 45 +36 2 7 8 3 1 0 2 9 70 59 +11 2 6 9 3 1 0 2 9 70 103 −33 2 6 10 3 0 0 3 6 52 106 −54 2 2 11 3 0 0 3 2 21 151 −130 0 0 12 3 0 0 3 0 3 251 −248 0 0
Knockout stage
9–12th place play-offs
Semi-finals
11th place game
9th place game
5–8th place play-offs
Semi-finals
7th place game
5th place game
Finals
Semi-finals
Third place game
Final
References