Junior World Championship matchday five preview

France and South Africa take centre stage when they meet in the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 final on Saturday, but all 16 teams are in action across two days in Georgia as the final placings in the tournament are decided.

All eyes will be on Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on Saturday when France take on defending champions South Africa in a mouthwatering World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 final with fans able to follow the action on RugbyPass TV where there is no local broadcaster.

After four rounds of mesmerising action over the past three weeks and many of the stars of tomorrow showcasing their potential, the bid for title glory will reach a glorious crescendo for one team.

France are aiming to lift the coveted trophy for a fourth time while the Junior Springboks are bidding to create history by winning back-to-back titles for the first time following last year’s succes over New Zealand in Italy.

It promises to be an occasion to savour and there is also an intriguing third place play-off between New Zealand and England, a repeat of the 2017 final at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium when New Zealand romped to a 64-17 victory with a side featuring current All Blacks Will Jordan, Caleb Clark and Luke Jacobson.

There is plenty at stake elsewhere with four games staged over two days at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi and two more at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi as the other 12 teams compete for fifth to 16th.

The action gets underway on Friday when USA and Uruguay meet in the 15th place play-off at AIA Arena at 18:00 local time (GMT+4) and Argentina and Australia face each other for seventh place at Avchala Stadium.

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Final: France v South Africa – Saturday, 20:30 local time (GMT+4)

This has all the makings of a classic as two sides dripping with pace, power and skill in every department meet in the Junior World Championship 2026 final at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi.

France and defending champions South Africa have illuminated this year’s tournament, with the Junior Springboks now looking to retain the trophy for the first time and become the first to go back-to-back since their opponents in 2018-19.

They edged out New Zealand 23-15 in a classic final in Rovigo last year and showed their quality when defeating England 53-37 in an action-packed semi-final in Tbilisi on Monday.

Kevin Foote’s men now face a Les Bleuets side aiming to become Junior World Championship winners for a fourth time, but facing a southern hemisphere team in the title decider for the first time since a 24-23 success over Australia in 2019.

France have named the same team that beat New Zealand 26-22 in their semi-final on Monday while Foote has made three changes to the side which overpowered England with Wasi Vyambwera and Risima Khosa earning starts at number eight and flanker respectively and Alzeadon Felix coming for Luan Giliomee at full-back.

“We want to continue playing the South African way. That means using our physicality to create momentum, winning the gain-line battle and playing with tempo and intensity,” saud Foote.

“Our set piece will be important in providing a solid platform, but we will also need to be smart and accurate, particularly on defence. Our preparations have gone extremely well. The players have clarity around our game model, they have confidence in one another, and there is genuine excitement about the opportunity that lies ahead.”

France, whose last title success came in South Africa in 2023, are preparing for their fifth final and will be brimming with confidence after a dramatic late try from centre Adrien Drault clinched a 26-22 win against New Zealand in their semi-final.

France and South Africa have not faced each other in the Junior World Championship since the 2019 semi-final, which Les Bleuets won 20-7. However, this isn’t the first time they have met at this venue, the Junior Springboks running out 37-15 winners in the 2017 third place play-off after the sides played out the first-ever draw in the pool stages (23-23) at Avchala Stadium.

The Junior Springboks are on their longest winning run at the tournament – 10 victories – as they look to retain their crown in what will be only their fourth Junior World Championship final.

Action from the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 fifth place semi-final between France and New Zealand at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 13 July. Giorgi Arjevanidze / World Rugby.

Third place play-off: New Zealand v England – Saturday, 18:00 local (GMT+4)

The bronze medal is on line as six-time Junior World Championship winners New Zealand take on England, who have been crowned champions on four occasions.

After losing to France and South Africa respectively in the semi-finals, their title hopes ended but these proud rugby nations will both be keen to end their campaign on a winning note.

England are without back-row Seb Kelly, who is suspended for six matches following his red card in the semi-final, and coach Andy Titterrell makes four changes to his starting XV.

Finn Keylock comes in at centre, Jonny Weimann at scrum-half and there are starts for forwards Jack Lewis and George Marsh, while second-row Aiden Ainsworth-Cave captains the side.

“The group has earned this opportunity through the work they’ve put in across the tournament, and the commitment shown by players and staff to build strong connections, take ownership of their development and support one another every step of the way has been imperative,” said Titterell.

“We know New Zealand will provide another huge test, but there’s a real belief within our team and a unity in how we’ve prepared, with everyone aligned on finishing the competition strongly. This fixture is a chance to bring together everything we’ve worked on as a team and deliver a performance that reflects who we are and what we’ve built throughout the Championship.”

New Zealand, who have won five of their previous six meetings with England in the Junior World Championship, will be aiming to avoid successive defeats in the tournament for the first time since 2019.

Coach Kane Jury has made five changes to his starting XV with Alexander Hewitt and Finn McLeod coming into the pack and Jackson Hughan, Logan Williams and Lautasi Etuale handed starts in the backline.

Action from the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 semi-final between South Africa and England at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 13 July. Photo: Tamuna Kulumbegashvili / World Rugby.

Fifth place play-off: Scotland v Wales – Friday, 20:30 local (GMT+4)

Scotland can emulate their best-ever Junior World Championship finish of fifth – a feat they achieved in Georgia in 2017 – by beating Wales at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi.

This will be the fourth meeting between Scotland and Wales in the tournament’s history, with the Welsh winning the first two (26-21 in 2013 and 42-19 2016) and Scotland the most recent one, the fifth place semi-final in 2017 (29-25).

Scotland are aiming to win four games at a Junior World Championship for only the second time and coach Fergus Pringle has made four changes to his starting XV following an impressive 44-26 victory over Argentina last time out.

Scrum-half Asa Stewart-Harris and second-row Alfie Blackett come into the starting line-up, while prop Oliver McKenna and back-row Jack Utterson also return to the side.

Pringle said: “I was delighted with the way the team played against Argentina, starting well, creating opportunities and we were clinical. In the second half we lost momentum and had to weather the storm but then came back to finish strongly. Wales have had a great tournament and they have big players in key positions so we know the challenge we’re up against it.”

Wales, who are bidding to register four wins at a Junio World Championship for only the second time, are aiming for their highest placing since finishing runners-up in 2013.

Richard Whiffin’s men booked their showdown with Scotland with a dramatic 38-36 victory over Australia in last Sunday’s fifth place semi-final.

Wales co-captain Deian Gwynne moves from the blindside flank to number eight with Tom Cottle slotting into the number six jersey, while loose-head prop George Leyland replaces Dylan James.

Seventh place play-off: Argentina v Australia – Friday, 18:00 local (GMT+4)

Argentina have made seven changes to the side who lost 44-26 at the hands of Scotland last Sunday as they prepare to face Australia at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi.

Benjamin Farias Cerioni, Manuel Cuneo Camargo, Bautista Benavides and Jeronimo Sorondo come into the pack with Benjamin Ledesma Arocena, Federico Serpa Laporte and Juan Preumayr joining the backline.

This will be the seventh time that Argentina and Australia have met at a Junior World Championship – and so far it is three wins apiece.

Both teams are aiming to avoid a third successive defeat in this year’s tournament and Los Pumitas full-back Simon Pfister goes into the final round as the tournament’s top try-scorer with seven.

Australia suffered four injuries in the opening quarter minutes of last Sunday’s fifth place semi-final defeat to Wales with Tom Farr-Jones replacing the standout Treyvon Pritchard for this match, prompting a switch to full-back for Wallace Charlie.

Taione Taka will move from midfield to wing, with Zac Fittler joining Charlie Bird in the centres and Luca Cleverley starts in the back row, while Toby Brial will partner Isaac Fonua in the second row. In the front row, John Grenfell will make his first start of the tournament after three appearances from the bench.

“The whole group are hungry to finish our Junior World Championship campaign on a high, but we know Argentina will be feeling the same,” said coach Chris Whitaker. “I’ve been proud at how our players have responded to adversity this tournament, especially with the injuries suffered to key members at vital moments. We’ve played some great rugby throughout the tour, but we’re determined to put a complete 80-minute performance together to finish with a win.”

Action from the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 fifth place semi-final between Australia and Wales at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 12 July. Photo: Tamuna Kulumbegashvili / World Rugby.

Ninth place play-off: Italy v Ireland – Saturday, 20:30 local (GMT+4)

Italy have only won two of their previous six meetings with Ireland in the Junior World Championship, but they did win the most recent one – an 18-16 pool-stage success on home soil in Viadana in last year’s tournament.

When Italy won 43-19 against Georgia in Monday’s ninth place semi-final, it marked their joint-biggest win in the Junior World Championship (a 41-17 victory over Japan in 2016). All of their points came in the first half in a dominant display.

Ireland only made certain of their place in the fixture at the very end, surviving a lineout on their own five-metre line with time up to beat Fiji 24-19.

11th place play-off: Georgia v Fiji – Saturday, 18:00 local (GMT+4)

Hosts Georgia will look to give their partisan home support reason to cheer when they face Fiji in the battle for 11th place at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi.

The Junior Lelos will face Fiji for the third time at a Junior World Championship and will look to complete a hat-trick of wins having beaten them in 2019 and 2024.

Fiji have only won three of their last 24 games in the Junior World Championship, but pushed Ireland all the way in their semi-final and will aim to bow out on a winning note.

Action from the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 13th place semi-final between Georgia and Italy at AIA Arena in Kutaisi, Georgia, on 13 July. Photo: Levan Verdzeuli / World Rugby.

13th place play-off: Japan v Spain – Friday, 20:30 local (GMT+4)

This will be the first Junior World Championship meeting between Japan and Spain as they prepare to face off at AIA Arena in Kutaisi. Japan have lost their previous 20 meetings with teams from Europe in the competition, while Spain will face a team from Asia for the first time.

Los Leones U20 recorded their biggest win of the tournament so far when dispatching Uruguay 57-6 on Sunday but coach Ricardo Martinena has tweaked his starting XV. Number eight Marçal Carreras returns to captain the side, while Mateo Antem comes in at fly-half to mean a switch to full-back for Malakai Hafoka.

Japan have made to changes in their pack with Sota Miura and Kotaro Kumagae earning starts while Keigo Sato comes in at scrum-half.

Japan won their last game by 50 points (71-21 v USA), their biggest win in Junior World Championship history, to end a run of 19 straight defeats. They will attempt to win consecutive games in the tournament for the first time, but face a confident Spain outfit on the back of their 57-6 victory against Uruguay.

That marked the most points Spain have scored and the fewest points conceded in a game at the Junior World Championship and they too have a first in sight, winning two games in a single tournament for the first time.

15th place play-off: USA v Uruguay – Friday, 18:00 local (GMT+4)

In the battle to avoid finishing last at this Junior World Championship, USA take on Uruguay at AIA Arena in Kutaisi with both eager to get a first win on the board.

USA make just two changes to the side beaten 71-21 by Japan in their semi-final with Lyndon Bailey coming into the second row and Marco Lapierre earning a start on the wing.

Uruguay, meanwhile, have made six changes following their own 57-6 loss to Spain, with Juan Manuel Sagario and Alex Sonneveld handed starts in their pack. Pierre Cotarmanac’h, Bruno Primavesi, Alfonso Fernandez and Bautista Menchaca also earn opportunities to impress from the start in the backline.