SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer believes the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole will be an excellent host for the second edition of the tournament.

“We are thrilled to bring this tournament to Gqeberha, a city with a rich rugby culture and a passionate fan base and we are very grateful for the assistance from the Eastern Cape government in this regard,” said Oberholzer in an SA Rugby statement.

“The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium offers top-class team facilities and an exceptional viewing experience for fans, making it the perfect venue for this event.

“The enthusiastic support will undoubtedly create a memorable experience for everyone involved. Together with the Friendly City, we are looking forward to welcoming and hosting the best U20s from the southern hemisphere in the Eastern Cape.”

The MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Ms Sibulele Ngongo added:

“This is a landmark moment for the Home of Legends as the Junior Springboks will be playing for the first time in history in the Eastern Cape Province.”

SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris said:

“Following the success of the inaugural tournament in Queensland, Australia in 2024 SANZAAR is pleased to announce that the U20 Championship will head to South Africa this year.

“Last year the title went down to the last round and we witnessed some very competitive and absorbing rugby.

“This important Championship will not only provide a vital pathway for up-and-coming rugby talent through exposure to essential international competition but will also provide development opportunities for the next generation of coaches, team management and match officials.”

Tickets are priced at R20 per person and will be available at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium ticket office or online from Webtickets. Broadcast information will be announced in due course.

Fixtures:

Thursday, May 1:

2pm - New Zealand v Australia & 4.10pm - Junior Boks v Argentina.

Tuesday, May 6:

2pm - New Zealand v Argentina & 4.10pm - Junior Boks v Australia.

Sunday, May 11:

2pm - Argentina v Australia & 4.10pm - Junior Boks v New Zealand.