Tough draw for Baby Boks
Defending champions South Africa were drawn alongside hosts, France, England and the United States for the IRB Junior World Championship 2013.
The draw – for the tournament that will take place in France between June 5 and 23 – was revealed by the International Rugby Board and the Fédération Française de Rugby on Thursday.
The Championship is firmly established as one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the annual international calendar, showcasing the future stars of Rugby and the host nation in a competition that serves up a feast of excitement and highly-competitive matches to a television audience in more than 160 nations.
The 2013 format will feature three venues with each hosting a pool. Stade Henri Desgrange in La Roche-sur-Yon will host Pool A matches.
The Stade de la Rabine in Vannes will host Pool B, while World Cup 2007 host venue Stade Pascal Laporte in Nantes will host Pool C matches.
The semifinals and IRB Junior World Championship Final will be played in Vannes.
The pools have been set on rankings based on results at the previous championship and hosts France, courtesy of their sixth-place finish in 2012, will face defending champions South Africa, England and IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2012 winners USA in Pool A.
JWC 2012 runners-up New Zealand, Ireland, Australia and Fiji are in Pool B, while Wales head Pool C which also includes Argentina, Scotland and Samoa.
The Junior Springboks will open the tournament on Wednesday, June 5 against the United States in La Roche-sur-Yon. Four days later they face powerful England at the same venue and then end their pool commitments against hosts, France, on June 13.
The 2013 JWC pools are:
Pool A: South Africa, France, England, USA
Pool B: New Zealand, Ireland, Australia, Fiji
Pool C: Wales, Argentina, Scotland, Samoa
Match Schedule
Match Day One – Wednesday, June 5:
South Africa v USA
New Zealand v Fiji
Wales v Samoa
France v England
Ireland v Australia
Argentina v Scotland
Match Day Two – Sunday ,June 9:
South Africa v England
Ireland v Fiji
Argentina v Samoa
France v USA
New Zealand v Australia
Wales v Scotland
Match Day 3 – Thursday, June 13
England v USA
Australia v Fiji
Wales v Argentina
France v South Africa
New Zealand v Ireland
Scotland v Samoa
