The 2026 U20 Rugby Championship, also known as 2026 TRC U20, was the third edition of the rugby union competition, the U20 Rugby Championship, the under-20 equivalent of The Rugby Championship, played by senior men's teams of Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The South African U20 side claimed their first title after playing a draw with the New Zealand U20 side 29-29 on 9 May 2026 in the last pool match. The tournament dates and venue were announced in March 2026, hosted by South Africa, with every match played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha (formerly called Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape.
New Zealand were the defending champions. Last year, the New Zealand U20 side defended their title, defeating the hosts South Africa 48–45.
Venue The venue was confirmed in March 2026, a month prior to the tournaments scheduled start date.
North End (Gqeberha) Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Capacity: 46,000
Table
Fixtures Fixtures were announced alongside the tournament venue and dates (March 2026).
Round 1
FB 15Cohen Norrie RW 14Oliver Guerin OC 13David Lewai IC 12Haki Wiseman LW 11Siale Pahulu FH 10Mika MuliainaSH 9 Charlie Sinton N8 8 Patrick Mauga BF 7 Caleb WoodleyOF 6 Finn McLeod RL 5 Jake Frost LL 4 Max Fale TP 3 Dane Johnston HK 2 Josh Findlay LP 1 Henry Stuart Replacements:HK 16Luka Patumaka Makata PR 17Ethan Webber PR 18Alexander Hewitt LK 19John Falloon N8 20Micah Fale SH 21Jackson Hughan FH 22Jay Reihana RW 23Logan Williams Coaches: Jarrad Hoeata Alex Robertson FB 15Louis FenwickeRW 14Riley WhitfeldOC 13Leo Jaques IC 12Frankie Goldsbrough LW 11Cooper Watters FH 10Finn MackaySH 9 Angus Grover N8 8 Eli Langi BF 7 Marshall Le Maitre OF 6 Tom Robinson RL 5 Isaac Fonua LL 4 Will Ross TP 3 Edwin Langi HK 2 Ewald Kruger LP 1 Jacob Job Replacements:HK 16Tyler Maybery PR 17Harper Strachan PR 18Jonah Rangiwai LK 19Kenneth Harris N8 20Cooper Eagle SH 21Sam Blank OC 22Jonty Fowler LW 23Taione Taka Coach: Chris Whitaker Assistant referees: Sean Muller (South Africa) Lulutho Matomela (South Africa) Television match official: Egon Seconds (South Africa) FB 15Alzeadon FelixRW 14Jack Benade OC 13Samuel Badenhorst IC 12Ethan Adams LW 11Lindsey Jansen FH 10Yaqeen AhmedSH 9 Hendre Schoeman N8 8 Kebotile Maake BF 7 Thomas BelingOF 6 Luke Cannon RL 5 Riley Norton (c) LL 4 Heinrich Theron TP 3 Danie Kruger HK 2 Liam van Wyk LP 1 Rambo Kubheka Replacements:HK 16Mahle Sithole PR 17Olliver Reid PR 18Kai Pratt LK 19JD Hattingh N8 20Risima Khosa SH 21Jayden Brits FH 22Vusi Moyo RW 23Kuthadzo Rasivhaga Coach: Kevin Foote FB 15Luciano AvacaRW 14Constantino KellerOC 13Ramon Fernandez IC 12Pedro Coll LW 11Mateo Tanoni FH 10Manuel GiannantonioSH 9 Ignacio Zabella N8 8 Basilio Canas BF 7 Joaquin Pascual VialeOF 6 Tomas Dande (c) RL 5 Agustin Ponzio LL 4 Jeremy Annand TP 3 Bautista Salinas Mealla HK 2 Nicolas Cambiasso LP 1 Benjamin Farias Cerioni Replacements:HK 16Manuel Cuneo Camargo PR 17Fabrizio Cebron PR 18Federico Narvaez LK 19Jeronimo Sorondo N8 20Federico Torre SH 21Juan Preumayr OC 22Benjamin Ordiz LW 23Simon Pfister Coach: José Pellicena Assistant referees: Sean Muller (South Africa) Lulutho Matomela (South Africa) Television match official: Egon Seconds (South Africa)
Round 2
FB 15Cohen Norrie RW 14Jay Reihana OC 13Ollie Guerin IC 12Jack Wiseman LW 11JD van der Westhuizen FH 10Mika MuliainaSH 9 Charlie Sinton N8 8 Finn McLeod BF 7 Kobe BrownleeOF 6 Logan Platt RL 5 Jake Frost LL 4 Max Fale TP 3 Alex Hewitt HK 2 Josh Findlay LP 1 Ethan Webber Replacements:HK 16Luka Patumaka Makata PR 17Charlie Wallis PR 18Dane Johnston LK 19John Falloon N8 20Micah Fale SH 21Boston Krone FH 22Angus Revell RW 23Logan Williams Coaches: Jarrad Hoeata Alex Robertson FB 15Simon PfisterRW 14Bautista Quiroga Miguens OC 13Pedro Coll IC 12Benjamin Ordiz LW 11Luciano Avaca FH 10Federico Serpa SH 9 Juan Preumayr N8 8 Federico Torre BF 7 Jeronimo Sorondo OF 6 Franco Marizza RL 5 Bautista Benavides LL 4 Joaquin Pascual Viale TP 3 Bautista Salinas Mealla HK 2 Manuel Cuneo LP 1 Fabrizio Cebron Replacements:HK 16Nicolas Cambiasso PR 17Benjamin Farias Cerioni PR 18German Tello Fredes LK 19Augustin Ponzio N8 20Basilio Canas SH 21Benjamin Ledesma Arocena OC 22Ramon Fernandez Miranda LW 23Manuel Giannantonio Coach: José Pellicena Assistant referees: Christopher Allison (South Africa) Lulutho Matomela (South Africa) Television match official: Ben Crouse (South Africa)
FB 15Akahluwa Boqwana RW 14Jack BenadeOC 13Samuel Badenhorst IC 12Ethan Adams LW 11Khuthadzo Rasivhaga FH 10Yaqeen AhmedSH 9 Hendre Schoeman N8 8 Kebotile Maake BF 7 Wasi VyambweraOF 6 Luke Cannon RL 5 Riley Norton (c) LL 4 Heinrich Theron TP 3 Danie Kruger HK 2 Liam van Wyk LP 1 Rambo Kubheka Replacements:HK 16Mahle Sithole PR 17Olliver Reid PR 18Luan van der Berg LK 19JD Hattingh N8 20Gert Kemp SH 21Jayden Brits FH 22Vusi Moyo RW 23Jade Muller Coach: Kevin Foote FB 15Louis Fenwicke RW 14Riley WhitfeldOC 13Leo Jaques IC 12Zach Fittler LW 11Tai Taka FH 10Finn Mackay SH 9 Angus Grover N8 8 Eli Langi BF 7 Tom Robinson (c)OF 6 Luca Cleverley RL 5 Isaac Fonua LL 4 Will Ross TP 3 Edwin Langi HK 2 Ewald Kruger LP 1 Jacob Job Replacements:HK 16Tyler Maybery PR 17Nicholas Hill PR 18Jonah Rangiwai LK 19Kenneth Harris N8 20Toby Brial SH 21Marshall Le Maitrek OC 22Jonty Fowler LW 23Chayse Geros Coach: Chris Whitaker
Assistant referees: Christopher Allison (South Africa) Lulutho Matomela (South Africa) Television match official: Ben Crouse (South Africa)
Round 3
FB 15Simon PfisterRW 14Benjamin Ledesma Arocena OC 13Pedro Coll IC 12Benjamin Ordiz LW 11Luciano Avaca FH 10Federico Serpa SH 9 Juan Preumayr N8 8 Federico Torre BF 7 Jeronimo Sorondo OF 6 Tomas Dande RL 5 Bautista Benavides LL 4 Joaquin Pascual Viale TP 3 Bautista Salinas Mealla HK 2 Manuel Cuneo LP 1 Benjamin Farias Cerioni Replacements:HK 16Nicolas Cambiasso PR 17Fabrizio Cebron PR 18Federico Narvaez LK 19Toribio Latorre N8 20Franco Marizza SH 21Ignacio Zabella OC 22Ramon Fernandez Miranda LW 23Manuel Giannantonio Coach: José Pellicena FB 15Louis Fenwicke RW 14Riley WhitfeldOC 13Leo Jaques IC 12Zach Fittler LW 11Tai Taka FH 10Finn Mackay SH 9 Angus Grover N8 8 Eli Langi BF 7 Tom Robinson (c)OF 6 Luca Cleverley RL 5 Isaac Fonua LL 4 Will Ross TP 3 Edwin Langi HK 2 Ewald Kruger LP 1 Jacob Job Replacements:HK 16Tyler Maybery PR 17Nicholas Hill PR 18Jonah Rangiwai LK 19Kenneth Harris N8 20Toby Brial SH 21Marshall Le Maitrek OC 22Jonty Fowler LW 23Chayse Geros Coach: Chris Whitaker
Assistant referees: Sean Muller (South Africa) Lulutho Matomela (South Africa) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
FB 15Akahluwa Boqwana RW 14Jack Benade OC 13Samuel Badenhorst IC 12Ethan Adams LW 11Khuthadzo Rasivhaga FH 10Yaqeen AhmedSH 9 Hendre Schoeman N8 8 Kebotile Maake BF 7 Wasi VyambweraOF 6 Luke Cannon RL 5 Riley Norton (c) LL 4 Heinrich Theron TP 3 Danie Kruger HK 2 Liam van Wyk LP 1 Rambo Kubheka Replacements:HK 16Mahle Sithole PR 17Olliver Reid PR 18Luan van der Berg LK 19JD Hattingh N8 20Risima Khosa SH 21Jayden Brits FH 22Vusi Moyo RW 23Jade Muller Coach: Kevin Foote FB 15Cohen Norrie RW 14Oliver Guerin OC 13Siale Pahulu IC 12Haki Wiseman LW 11Logan Wiliams FH 10Mika MuliainaSH 9 Charlie Sinton N8 8 Patrick Mauga BF 7 Caleb Woodley OF 6 Finn McLeod RL 5 Jake Frost LL 4 Max Fale TP 3 Dane Johnston HK 2 Josh Findlay LP 1 Henry Stuart Replacements:HK 16Jericho Wharehinga PR 17Ethan Webber PR 18Alexander Hewitt LK 19John Falloon N8 20Micah Fale SH 21Jackson Hughan FH 22David Lewai RW 23Kobe Brownlee Coaches: Jarrad Hoeata Alex Robertson
Assistant referees: Sean Muller (South Africa) Lulutho Matomela (South Africa) Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Statistics The following players are the 2026 U20 Rugby Championship leaders:
Points scorers NameTeam1Yaqeen Ahmed422Jack Benade203Federico Serpa184Finn Mackay165Ethan Adams156Cohen Norrie127Federico Torre10Benjamin Ledesma ArocenaHendre SchoemanAkahluwa BoqwanaJack WisemanFinn McLeodCaleb WoodleyTai TakaRiley WhitfieldLeo JaquesEdwin Langi18Jonty Fowler719Manuel Giannantonio6Mika Muliaina21Wasi Vyambwera5Oliver ReidKebotile MaakeLuke CannonSamuel BadenhorstTomas DandeRamon Fernandez MirandaLuciano AvacaFabrizio CebronManuel CuneoJD van der WesthuizenHenry StuartDane JohnstonOllie GuerinLogan WilliamsMarshall Le MaitreTom RobinsonEwald Kruger39Vusi Moyo4
Try scorers NameTeamTries1Jack Benade42Ethan Adams33Cohen Norrie2Jack WisemanFinn McLeodCaleb WoodleyHendre SchoemanYaqeen AhmedAkahluwa BoqwanaBenjamin Ledesma ArocenaFederico TorreRiley WhitfieldFinn MackayTai TakaLeo JaquesEdwin Langi18Dane Johnston1Henry StuartJean van der WesthuizenLogan WilliamsOllie GuerinMarshall Le MaitreTom RobinsonEwald KrugerFederico SerpaTomas DandeRamon Fernandez MirandaLuciano AvacaFabrizio CebronManuel CuneoOliver ReidLuke CannonWasi VyambweraSamuel BadenhorstKebotile Maake
Metres gained NameTeamm1Luciano Avaca2792Ethan Adams1873Yaqeen Ahmed186Simon Pfister5Jack Benade170Logan Williams7Leo Jacques1618Khuti Rasivhaga1479Mika Muliaina13610Akahluwa Boqwana129
Defenders beaten NameTeamDB1Ethan Adams232Luciano Avaca163Yaqeen Ahmed154Cohen Norrie13Leo Jacques6Simon Pfister117Jack Benda9Kebotile Maake9Pedro Coll810Finn Mackay7Khuti Rasivhaga
*Stats correct as on May 11, 2026 (Round 3)
See also 2026 World Rugby U20 Championship 2026 Six Nations U20 Championship
References