Gqeberha welcomes world’s best young talent for U20 Championship
SANZAAR’s Rugby Championship Under-20 will return to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha at the end of April, bringing together the southern hemisphere’s top junior talent for a second consecutive year.
South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina will once again converge in the Eastern Cape, with the tournament kicking off on Freedom Day, April 27 . The competition will continue with match days on May 3 and 9 as the teams fine-tune their preparations for the Junior World Championship in Georgia in June and July.
The event is set to showcase the next generation of international stars, with all four nations using the tournament as a key step in their build-up to the global showpiece later this year.
Following last year’s tournament, the Junior Boks and New Zealand Under-20s went on to contest the final for the world crown with captain Riley Norton’s team going on to take gold for South Africa.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said it was a feather in the cap of SA Rugby and the Eastern Cape to host the third instalment of this tournament for a second time.
“Last year’s event was a massive success, and we are thrilled that this tournament will be returning to Gqeberha,” said Oberholzer.
“The Eastern Cape has a rich rugby culture and a passionate fan base, and like last year we expect good crowds to come to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to see the four teams in action across three double-header match days.
“The combination of top-notch facilities at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and superb accommodation and training options, coupled with the enthusiastic support of the people of the Eastern Cape will make this another memorable experience for everyone involved.”
SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris said: “Following the success of the tournament in Gqeberha last year, SANZAAR is pleased to announce that the 2026 U20 Rugby Championship will again head to South Africa this year.
“Last year New Zealand retained the title with an exhilarating 48-45 win over the hosts South Africa.
“The third edition of this important Championship will again be played at the wonderful Nelson Mandela May Stadium in Gqeberha as Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa go head-to-head over three rounds.
“As in previous years the tournament will provide a vital pathway for up-and-coming rugby talent through exposure to essential international competition and provide development opportunities for the next generation of coaches, team management and match officials. SANZAAR sincerely thanks SA Rugby for its support of the Championship.”
It’s the second international rugby event headed to Gqeberha in the coming months, after it was announced recently that the Springboks will kick off their 2026 season against the Barbarians at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, June 20.
Fixtures:
Monday, April 27
14.00: New Zealand v Australia
16.10: Junior Boks v Argentina
Sunday, May 3
14.00: New Zealand v Argentina
16.10: Junior Boks v Australia
Saturday, May 9
14.00: Argentina v Australia
16.10: Junior Boks v New Zealand
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