Under-20 Competitions including Oceania & World U20s

[fatprop]

rollerskates in the first half but much better/parity in the 2nd.

I was surprised in the difference across the field in physical development of the Aus side, it really looked like boys vs men

 

[Adam84]

really, i didn't think so.. didn't reflect boys vs men on the scoreboard in the end either

they had a couple of bigger locks, outside of that was fairly on par

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Really wasn't expecting this...

Bring on SA!

 

[WoodysRFC]

Seems Eli Oudenryn is eligible for Australia.

 

[Adam84]

Seems Eli Oudenryn is eligible for Australia.

His dad was an Aussie NRL winger in the 90s

 

[WoodysRFC]

His dad was an Aussie NRL winger in the 90s

He's a serious talent, hopefully he's at least on the radar going forward.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

His dad was an Aussie NRL winger in the 90s

Lee Oudenryn?

 

[Adam84]

Lee Oudenryn?

That’s him

 

[kiap]

Seems Eli Oudenryn is eligible for Australia.

It's a rare surname - probably dutch, but spelled with a "j" instead of "y" in the old country.

 

[Prodigy]

Sharples was easily outplayed by the Saffa No 9. Martens looked a lot sharper when he came on and I believe was clearly the better of the two during the last set of U20s games here. I don't think they are pretty close at all.

On your question about who would replace him, I don't have any idea. The only U20s games I see are those on tv. I have no idea about the quality of players at that age going around in the various capital city competitions but there are many on here who say there are better.

Lachlan Smith, currently at the Brumbies, has a great pass, solid defender and a great attacking threat. Shane they didn’t take 3 scrum halfs

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I wouldn’t consider this is a strong age for that position in comparison to the 9s of last years 18s and what will be in this years top 18s rep sides.

 

[Backintheolddays]

Lachy Smith just needs two years of Mooseheads and Private Bin to put on 20kg then he’s your man.

 

[JRugby2]

Lachlan Smith, currently at the Brumbies, has a great pass, solid defender and a great attacking threat. Shane they didn’t take 3 scrum halfs

We have ex Aus18s half Luke Aiken playing in the Auckland system/ blues 20s as well. A lot of similarities to your Smiths, Cortez Ratima's, Kalani Thomas' of the world.

 

[Rudderless]

World Rugby has today confirmed that Georgia will host an expanded World Rugby U20 Championship in 2026 with 16 teams to contest the prestigious age-grade tournament.

Fiji, Japan, Uruguay and USA to complete the line-up


The expansion to 16 teams comes on the back of consultation with national unions as part of a wide-ranging review of men’s age-grade competition structures aimed at increasing the competitiveness of international rugby as part of the pathway to Men’s Rugby World Cup.

This will be the first time since 2009 that 16 teams will take part in the U20 Championship and means that there will be no relegation from the 2025 edition for the team losing the 11th place play-off between Ireland and Spain on Saturday.

Georgia to host expanded World Rugby U20 Championship in 2026 | World Rugby

The World Rugby U20 Championship will return to Georgia in 2026 with the prestigious age-grade tournament to expand to 16 teams.

www.world.rugby

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Much as I enjoyed England not make the SF the current 12-team format always meant that a legit top-four team would potentially miss out. 16 makes way more sense esp if there's QF.

 

[Major Tom]

World Rugby has today confirmed that Georgia will host an expanded World Rugby U20 Championship in 2026 with 16 teams to contest the prestigious age-grade tournament.

Fiji, Japan, Uruguay and USA to complete the line-up


The expansion to 16 teams comes on the back of consultation with national unions as part of a wide-ranging review of men’s age-grade competition structures aimed at increasing the competitiveness of international rugby as part of the pathway to Men’s Rugby World Cup.

This will be the first time since 2009 that 16 teams will take part in the U20 Championship and means that there will be no relegation from the 2025 edition for the team losing the 11th place play-off between Ireland and Spain on Saturday.

Georgia to host expanded World Rugby U20 Championship in 2026 | World Rugby

The World Rugby U20 Championship will return to Georgia in 2026 with the prestigious age-grade tournament to expand to 16 teams.

www.world.rugby

Georgia would be a pretty cool place to tour. Great experience for a 20 year old that league can’t offer.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Georgia would be a pretty cool place to tour. Great experience for a 20 year old that league can’t offer.

I reckon that's theoretically true, but precisely zero potential NRL players will stay with rugby for the opportunity to spend a couple of weeks in a former Soviet republic in the Caucuses.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Georgia would be a pretty cool place to tour. Great experience for a 20 year old that league can’t offer.

Know what’s cooler than Georgia though for a 20 year old?

A low to average NRL salary of 200k at that age. That is going to be the draw. All these guys have the means to travel in their down time and they do.

 

[Pfitzy]

Most guys in that age bracket would be thinking the state in the USA, not the European nation, when you say "Georgia"

 

[Major Tom]

Know what’s cooler than Georgia though for a 20 year old?

A low to average NRL salary of 200k at that age. That is going to be the draw. All these guys have the means to travel in their down time and they do.

Yeah but league players don’t get to tour overseas in Europe. Money obviously talks though. Would be nice to get more content of the boys on tour.