Planet Rugby Forum

Wednesday, May 30 to Sunday, June 17

The pool stages of the tournament will be hosted at the Stade Aimé Giral in Perpignan, Stade de la Méditerranée in Béziers and the Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié in Narbonne, with the venue for the semi-finals and final set to be announced in due course.

Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Wales and Japan
Pool B: England, Scotland, Italy and Argentina
Pool C: South Africa, France, Ireland and Georgia

Three town where rugby has a fantastic history

Another tournament in France. Meh.

Well another Pool A stroll in the park for us

Laurent wrote:Three town where rugby has a fantastic history

Great to hear

handyman wrote:Another tournament in France. Meh.

And as expected looking at the pools it seems France and South Africa have another chance to f#ck Ireland's world cup hopes once again!

Can't see past another England or NZ win.

Wouldn't be surprised if Georgia beat Ireland as well.

What's the qualifying process for this?
Georgia over some of the more established sides is nice to see but a bit of a surprise.

What is it with the stupid qualifying system, why not have a QF stage?

Sinkers wrote:What's the qualifying process for this?
Georgia over some of the more established sides is nice to see but a bit of a surprise.

I think there are 2 tournaments with P&R between them.

Masterj wrote:What is it with the stupid qualifying system, why not have a QF stage?

So they can have tier play-offs 9-12, 5-8 and a 1-4. More games for more young players. Every player has to get a game in the group stage too iirc. It's a really good tournament to watch.

Masterji wrote:What is it with the stupid qualifying system, why not have a QF stage?

It allows ranking games afterwards and thus more guaranteed games for everybody. It is a development tournament after all.

eldanielfire wrote:It allows ranking games afterwards and thus more guaranteed games for everybody.

Nup

Tim. wrote:

Sinkers wrote:What's the qualifying process for this?
Georgia over some of the more established sides is nice to see but a bit of a surprise.

I think there are 2 tournaments with P&R between them.

Masterj wrote:What is it with the stupid qualifying system, why not have a QF stage?

So they can have tier play-offs 9-12, 5-8 and a 1-4. More games for more young players. Every player has to get a game in the group stage too iirc. It's a really good tournament to watch.

There's the JRWC and JRWT (World U20 Rugby Trophy)

The bottom team in the JRWC relegates to the JRWT and the top JRWT team promotes

In the JRWT two spots are fixed - the hosts and the JRWC relegated team. The other 6 spots go to qualifiers, one each from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Oceania

Sinkers wrote:What's the qualifying process for this?
Georgia over some of the more established sides is nice to see but a bit of a surprise.

It's a pretty fair qualifying stage, Japan, PI, Americans and Euro winners are competing for a spot. Last place team drops out each year and new qualifier joins. Georgia at this level is not Tier 2 but Tier 1 or it has been for past 4 years. Way ahead of teams like Japan, Fiji and other tier 2. Have never finished outside top 10, beating Italy twice and Argentina just last summer.

South Africa's fixtures (kick-off times CAT; TBC by World Rugby)

SA v. Georgia - May 30 (18:30)
SA v. Ireland - June 3 (16:30)
SA vs. France - June 7 (21:00)

Day 1 WED MAY 30 2018

SOUTH AFRICA U20 V GEORGIA U20 Stade Aime-Giral, Perpignan
ENGLAND U20 V ARGENTINA U20 Stade d'Honneur du Parc des sports et de l'Amitie, Narbonne
SCOTLAND U20 V ITALY U20 Stade de la Mediterranee, Béziers
NEW ZEALAND U20 V JAPAN U20 Stade d'Honneur du Parc des sports et de l'Amitie, Narbonne
AUSTRALIA U20 V WALES U20 Stade de la Mediterranee, Béziers
FRANCE U20 V IRELAND U20 Stade Aime-Giral, Perpignan

JRWC Fixtures

englishchief wrote:Can't see past another England or NZ win.

Wouldn't be surprised if Georgia beat Ireland as well.

I think England's chances will depend on whether our senior U20s, with AP experience, are made available. The 6N squad haven't looked that good - but they're missing their best 4 ? players - add them back in and it'd make a huge difference.

France might have a say in it this time.

Junior Bok training squad for first camp (February 20 to 23):

Props: Cabous Eloff (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Keagan Glade (Xerox Golden Lions), Leon Lyons (DHL Western Province), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Xerox Golden Lions), Sazi Sandi (DHL Western Province), Mornay Smith (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Alulutho Tshakweni (Eastern Province), Tiaan van der Merwe (Xerox Golden Lions).

Hookers: PJ Botha (Xerox Golden Lions), Schalk Erasmus (DHL Western Province), Fezokuhle Mbatha (Cell C Sharks).

Locks: Luyolo Dapula (Eastern Province), Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Western Province), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Western Province), PJ Steenkamp (Xerox Golden Lions), JJ van der Mescht (Cell C Sharks), Ruan Vermaak (Xerox Golden Lions).

Loose forwards: Phendulani Buthelezi (Cell C Sharks), Francke Horn (DHL Western Province), Shaine Orderson (DHL Western Province), Ryno Pieterse (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Erwart Potgieter (Vodacom Blue Bulls), JC Pretorius (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Muller Uys (DHL Western Province).

Scrumhalves: Richman Gora (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Jack Hart (Xerox Golden Lions), Rewan Kruger (Toyota Free State).

Flyhalves: David Coetzer (DHL Western Province), Lubabalo Dobela (Toyota Free State), Johannes Steenkamp (Leopards).

Centres: Lyle Hendricks (DHL Western Province), Rikus Pretorius (DHL Western Province), Manuel Rass (Xerox Golden Lions), Wandisile Simelane (Xerox Golden Lions), Louritz van der Schyff (Xerox Golden Lions), Sango Xamlashe (Toyota Free State).

Outside backs: Christian Ambadiang (DHL Western Province), Muller du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Tyrone Green (Xerox Golden Lions), Gianni Lombard (Xerox Golden Lions), Sihle Njezula (DHL Western Province), Sakoyisa Makata (DHL Western Province), Christiaan Strydom (Blue Bulls).

The training squad includes five capped Junior Springboks – Salmaan Moerat, Gianni Lombard, Wandisile Simelane, Rewan Kruger and Muller Uys – and 22 former SA Schools players, including prop Keagan Glade, centre Rikus Pretorius and lock JJ van der Mescht.

Another member of the 2017 Under-20 Championship squad, Damian Willemse, was also invited to the camp, but he is on tour with the DHL Stormers.

https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/junio ... p-13367574

Junior Springbok training camp dates:

Camp 1 – 20-23 February (Stellenbosch)

Camp 2 – 6-9 March (Stellenbosch)

Camp 3 – 27-30 March (Stellenbosch)

Camp 4 – 10-25 April (Stellenbosch)

v Georgia u20:
April 13 (Cape Town)
April 20 (Cape Town)

UK Tour – 30 April to 12 May
May 4 v Scotland u20 (Edinburgh)
May 8 v Wales u20 (Cardiff)
May 11 v England u20 (London)

U20 Champs holding camp – 20-25 May (Stellenbosch)

kiap wrote:

eldanielfire wrote:It allows ranking games afterwards and thus more guaranteed games for everybody.

Nup

I don't know if that's a yup or a nope

Laurent wrote:Three towns where rugby had a fantastic history

Torquemada 1420 wrote:

Laurent wrote:Three towns where rugby had a fantastic history

Perpignan will be back in Top 14 next year unless they cock it up.

Béziers is still in the race for promotion (though unlikely)

Narbone will be in Fédérale 1 or worse

Laurent wrote:

Torquemada 1420 wrote:

Laurent wrote:Three towns where rugby had a fantastic history

Perpignan will be back in Top 14 next year unless they cock it up.

Béziers is still in the race for promotion (though unlikely)

Narbone will be in Fédérale 1 or worse

Narbonne in financial trouble? Obviously not looking good on the field.

goeagles wrote:

Laurent wrote:

Torquemada 1420 wrote:

Laurent wrote:Three towns where rugby had a fantastic history

Perpignan will be back in Top 14 next year unless they cock it up.

Béziers is still in the race for promotion (though unlikely)

Narbone will be in Fédérale 1 or worse

Narbonne in financial trouble? Obviously not looking good on the field.

On the field they are pretty much dead. Sponsors will leave ...

Laurent wrote:

Torquemada 1420 wrote:

Laurent wrote:Three towns where rugby had a fantastic history

Perpignan will be back in Top 14 next year unless they cock it up.

Béziers is still in the race for promotion (though unlikely)

Narbone will be in Fédérale 1 or worse

Would like to see les Ultras Sapiac back. Great fans.

Laurent wrote:

Torquemada 1420 wrote:

Laurent wrote:Three towns where rugby had a fantastic history

Perpignan will be back in Top 14 next year unless they cock it up.

Béziers is still in the race for promotion (though unlikely)

Narbone will be in Fédérale 1 or worse

Blimey. Doesn't feel so long ago I went to Narbonne when they played Sarries in the Challenge Cup. Seemed like a really proper rugby town. Still have a Narbonne flag in a draw somewhere.

croyals wrote:

Laurent wrote:

Torquemada 1420 wrote:

Laurent wrote:Three towns where rugby had a fantastic history

Perpignan will be back in Top 14 next year unless they cock it up.

Béziers is still in the race for promotion (though unlikely)

Narbone will be in Fédérale 1 or worse

Blimey. Doesn't feel so long ago I went to Narbonne when they played Sarries in the Challenge Cup. Seemed like a really proper rugby town. Still have a Narbonne flag in a draw somewhere.

the 3 above where stalwart of French rugby. Béziers won the league 11 times, Narbonne 2 and Perpignan 7

Laurent wrote:

croyals wrote:

Laurent wrote:

Torquemada 1420 wrote:

Laurent wrote:Three towns where rugby had a fantastic history

Perpignan will be back in Top 14 next year unless they cock it up.

Béziers is still in the race for promotion (though unlikely)

Narbone will be in Fédérale 1 or worse

Blimey. Doesn't feel so long ago I went to Narbonne when they played Sarries in the Challenge Cup. Seemed like a really proper rugby town. Still have a Narbonne flag in a draw somewhere.

the 3 above where stalwart of French rugby. Béziers won the league 11 times, Narbonne 2 and Perpignan 7

Yes I remember USAP and Beziers well, and we used to go on holiday to the Perpignan area every summer so got a good understanding of the strength of rugby down there. Notice Biarritz in D2 as well - old clubs left behind by new money I assume?

croyals wrote:

Laurent wrote:

Torquemada 1420 wrote:

Laurent wrote:Three towns where rugby had a fantastic history

Perpignan will be back in Top 14 next year unless they cock it up.

Béziers is still in the race for promotion (though unlikely)

Narbone will be in Fédérale 1 or worse

Blimey. Doesn't feel so long ago I went to Narbonne when they played Sarries in the Challenge Cup. Seemed like a really proper rugby town. Still have a Narbonne flag in a draw somewhere.

Coincidentally, I went to see them play away at Tigers but for the life of me cannot recall when that game was played. I'm starting to think I imagined it since I can't recall when Narbonne were in the HEC (or Tigers in the Shield). Maybe it was a pre-season friendly.

croyals wrote: Yes I remember USAP and Beziers well, and we used to go on holiday to the Perpignan area every summer so got a good understanding of the strength of rugby down there. Notice Biarritz in D2 as well - old clubs left behind by new money I assume?

Yes. It was something I warned on here for years. Now you see the likes of Beziers, Biarritz, Bourgoin, USAP, Begles, Grenoble, Dax, Colomiers, Bayonnne, Narbonne, Albi, Tarbes etc who were all top teams, and in many cases on the European circuit (finalists in a few cases) now struggling in 2 or worse or even defunct entirely.

The price of an unsustainable model in the pro era.

What are the 6N U20 takeaways so far?

Andalu wrote:What are the 6N U20 takeaways so far?

Between the English and French so far

Preparation for the World Rugby Under 20 Championship kicks into action in Palmerston North this week with 46 players selected for the first trial camp of the year.

The camp begins on Thursday with a tight five clinic led by All Blacks scrum guru Mike Cron, before all players assemble for a five-day programme. Two trial teams will be selected to play Hurricanes Development and a Wellington XV on Saturday 10 March.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/32115/und ... -selection

Forwards:

John Akau'ola-Laula - Auckland
Sione Asi - Manawatu
Suetena Asomua - Counties Manukau
Tom Christie - Canterbury
Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta - Tasman
Rob Cobb - Auckland
Devan Flanders - Hawkes Bay
Tom Florence - Taranaki
Brayden Iose - Manawatu
Ricky Jackson - Otago
Joe Johnson - Bay of Plenty
Josh Kaho - Waikato
Tevita Mafileo - Bay of Plenty
Slade McDowall - Otago
Sam Moli - Tasman
Jeriah Mua - Bay of Plenty
Xavier Numia - Wellington
Taine Plumtree - Wellington
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa - Auckland
Matene Ruawai - Manawatu
Ben Sa'u - Auckland
Bradley Slater - Taranaki
Flynn Thomas - Southland
Will Tucker - Canterbury
Kaliopasi Uluilakepa - Wellington
Tupou Vaa'i - Taranaki
Stan van den Hoven - Bay of Plenty (Netherlands)

Backs:

Leicester Faingaanuku - Tasman
Scott Gregory - Northland
Jack Grooby - Tasman
Ciarahn Matoe - Taranaki
Raymond Nu'u - Canterbury
Rupena Parkinson - Tasman
Harry Plummer - Auckland
Rameka Poihipi - Canterbury
Carlos Price - Wellington
Billy Proctor - Wellington
Ngane Punivai - Canterbury
Jay Renton - Southland
Xavier Roe - Waikato
Jamie Spowart - Tasman
Bailyn Sullivan - Waikato
Tanielu Tele'a - Auckland
Kaleb Trask - Bay of Plenty
Ueta Tufuga - Manawatu
Quinn Tupaea - Waikato

Not Considered due to Super Rugby or Sevens commitments

Caleb Clarke - Blues
Will Jordan - Crusaders
Vilimoni Koroi - All Blacks Sevens

Not considered due to injury

Jacob Devery - Hawke's Bay
Tim Farrell - Hawke's Bay
Laghlan McWhannell - Waikato
Ajay Mua - Bay of Plenty
Hoskins Sotutu - Auckland
Cameron Suafoa - Auckland
Sione Talitui - Auckland
Sheldon Tovio - Waikato
Will Tremain - Hawke's Bay

Good friend of ours son is in the Japanese training squad.

He’s just been removed to play an A Tournament in Fiji for the U23s which is considered Japans A Team.

Hopefully he will go back into the U20s for the tournament and if he does we’ll travel to the South Of France to meet up with his parents and watch him play.

Stormers flyhalf Damian Willemse has been included in a 35-man Junior Springbok training squad.

Coach Chean Roux's squad will switch into match mode on Monday when they gather in Stellenbosch for their fourth training camp ahead of the World Rugby U20 Championship.

The Junior Boks will face Georgia in international friendlies on consecutive Fridays, 13 and 20 April, before meeting them again in their opening U20 Championship encounter in the south of France on 30 May.

This camp will be followed by a UK tour from 30 April to 12 May where Roux’s charges will take on Scotland, Wales and England.

http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/detail ... unior-boks

Junior Springbok training squad - 4th camp:

Props: Keagan Glade (Golden Lions), Leon Lyons (Western Province), Nkosikhona Masuku (Golden Lions), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Golden Lions), Sazi Sandi (Western Province), Alulutho Tshakweni (Eastern Province), Tiaan van der Merwe (Golden Lions)

Hookers: PJ Botha (Golden Lions), Schalk Erasmus (Western Province), Daniel Jooste (Western Province)

Locks: Ben-Jason Dixon (Western Province), Salmaan Moerat (Western Province), Ruan Nortje (Blue Bulls), PJ Steenkamp (Golden Lions), Ruan Vermaak (Golden Lions)

Loose forwards: Phendulani Buthelezi (Sharks), Ryno Pieterse (Blue Bulls), JC Pretorius (Blue Bulls), Dian Schoonees (Golden Lions), Muller Uys (Western Province)

Scrumhalves: Jack Hart (Golden Lions), Rewan Kruger (Free State), Zak Burger (Sharks)

Flyhalves: Lubabalo Dobela (Free State), Damian Willemse (Western Province)

Centres: Lyle Hendricks (Western Province), Rikus Pretorius (Western Province), Manuel Rass (Golden Lions), Wandisile Simelane (Golden Lions)

Outside backs: Muller du Plessis (Sharks), Tyrone Green (Golden Lions), David Kriel (Western Province), Gianni Lombard (Golden Lions), Sihle Njezula (Western Province), Abner van Reenen (Western Province)

Torquemada 1420 wrote:Coincidentally, I went to see them play away at Tigers but for the life of me cannot recall when that game was played. I'm starting to think I imagined it since I can't recall when Narbonne were in the HEC (or Tigers in the Shield). Maybe it was a pre-season friendly.

Correct, they have never played in it.

Junior Springbok team to face Georgia in a pre-JRWC warm-up match:

15 Gianni Lombard (Golden Lions), 14 Tyrone Green (Golden Lions), 13 Wandisile Simelane (Golden Lions), 12 Rikus Pretorius (Western Province), 11 Sihle Njezula (Western Province), 10 Lubabalo Dobela (Free State), 9 Rewan Kruger (Free State), 8 Muller Uys (Western Province), 7 PJ Steenkamp (Golden Lions), 6 Dian Schoonees (Golden Lions), 5 Ruan Nortje (Blue Bulls), 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain - Western Province), 3 Sazi Sandi (Western Province), 2 Schalk Erasmus (Western Province), 1 Alulutho Tshakweni (Eastern Province)

Substitutes: 16 PJ Botha (Golden Lions), 17 Nkosikhona Masuku (Golden Lions), 18 Cohen Kiewit (Golden Lions), 19 JC Pretorius (Blue Bulls), 20 Phendulani Buthelezi (Sharks), 21 Zak Burger (Sharks), 22 Abner van Reenen (Western Province), 23 Lyle Hendricks (Western Province)

Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux’s starting line-up includes five players who were members of the SA U20 team that finished third in the international spectacle in Tbilisi, Georgia, last year. They are Moerat, fullback Gianni Lombard, centre Wandisile Simelane, scrumhalf Rewan Kruger and No 8 Muller Uys.

The match-day 23 features a total of 12 former SA Schools players, with those outside of the capped Junior Springboks being props Sazi Sandi and Nkosikhona Masuku, loose forwards PJ Steenkamp, JC Pretorius and Phendulani Buthelezi, winger Sihle Njezula and centre Rikus Pretorius.

https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/moerat- ... a-20180412

A group of 30 Argentine U20 players who travelled to France in preparation for the tournament that starts at the end of May there.



Some curious facts:
1) José Pellicena (former assistant coach of Raúl Pérez, in Jaguares) is the head coach and Enrique Pichot (brother of @AP9_ ) and Ricardo LeFort sassistant coaches.

2) Includes the brother of Tomás Lavanini among the locks.

3) Juan Daireaux is one of the players more promising in the squad (he can plays like fly half or fullback) and has already been trained with Jaguares for some time.

Referee Team

Karl Dickson (England)
Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Dan Jones (Wales)
Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
Ludovic Cayre (France)
Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
Damon Murphy (ARU)
Egon Seconds (South Africa)
Pali Deluca (Argentina)
Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Stuart Terheege (England)

Biarritz were badly managed. Instead of developing their own talent they brought off other nearby clubs then Serge Kampf turned off the tap.

Brumby_in_Vic wrote:Biarritz were badly managed. Instead of developing their own talent they brought off other nearby clubs then Serge Kampf turned off the tap.

He kind of passed away...

ovalball wrote:

englishchief wrote:Can't see past another England or NZ win.

Wouldn't be surprised if Georgia beat Ireland as well.

I think England's chances will depend on whether our senior U20s, with AP experience, are made available. The 6N squad haven't looked that good - but they're missing their best 4 ? players - add them back in and it'd make a huge difference.

France might have a say in it this time.

Both Curry's should be available if not touring. Can't see Sale in the AP final, somehow. England will give a game to all the players they take again - is that tournament rules?