The Junior Springboks claimed the 2026 U20 Rugby Championship title with a 56-17 win over Australia U20 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Sunday, despite having to play New Zealand U20 in their Round 3 clash on Saturday, 09 May 2026 at 16:10 (SA Time).
The Junior Springboks took full advantage of Australia U20S ill discipline to lead 28-12 at the halftime break. Australia U20 conceded two penalty tries and received three yellow cards for their efforts in the first half. The Blitzboks scored four tries in the second half to secure the win as well as the 2026 U20 Rugby Championship.
The Junior Springboks scored the first try after the ball was spread wide from a lineout, and following brilliant hands, Jack Benade scored in the corner after fourteen minutes of play. Yaqeen Ahmed converted to extend the junior Springboks' lead to 07-00.
The Junior Springboks attacked at every opportunity, and following a great line-break by Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, Wasi Vyambwera crashed over for the Junior Springboks second try after 20 minutes of play in the first half. Yaqeen Ahmed converted, extending the Junior Springboks’ lead to 14-00.
Five minutes later, the Junior Springboks were awarded a penalty try after Australia collapsed a driving maul, earning them their second yellow card of the match.
However, Australia U20 replied when Finn Mackay slipped past several defenders to open the scoring for Australia U20. Finn Mackay converted his try to cut the Junior Springboks' lead to 21-07 after thirty minutes of play in the first half.
Three minutes later, the Australian winger Taione Taka was sent off with a yellow card for slapping down a Junior Springboks’ pass, reducing Australia U20 to 13 players. The Junior Springboks were also awarded a second penalty try to lead 28-07.
Brilliant work down the touchline put Riley Whitfeld in pace to score Australia U20S second try to cut the Junior Springboks’ lead to 28-12 with three minutes to play in the first half.
Australia U20 made a dominant start to the first half; however, after absorbing the pressure, Ethan Adams stormed past several Australian defenders to open the scoring for the Junior Springboks after 12 minutes of play in the second half. Yaqeen Ahmed, extending the Junior Springboks’ lead to 35-12.
Five minutes later, Hendré Schoeman sniped off the back of a maul, using flair and power, to score the Junior Springboks' sixth try. A conversion by Yaqeen Ahmed extended the Junior Springboks' lead to 42-12.
Australia U20 hit back with a try in the corner by winger Taione Taka, cutting the Junior Springboks' lead to 42-17.
With 12 minutes to play in the second half, Luke Canon scored off the back of a lineout-maul, extending the Junior Springboks’ lead to 49-17 following the conversion by Vusi Moyo.
Yaqeen Ahmed added a late try, which was converted by Vusi Moyo to secure a 56-17 win for the Junior Springboks.
Scorers:
Junior Springboks: Tries: Jack Benade, Wasi Vyambwera, penalty try (2), Ethan Adams, Hendré Schoeman, Luke Canon, Yaqeen Ahmed. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (4), Vusi Moyo (2).
Australia U20: Tries: Finn Mackam, Riley Whitfeld, Taione Taka. Conversion: Finn Macka
Teams:
Junior Springboks: 15 Akahluwa Boqwana, 14 Jack Benade, 13 Samuel Badenhorst, 12 Ethan Adams, 11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Kebotile Maake, 7 Wasi Vyambwera, 6 Luke Canon, 5 Riley Norton (c), 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Liam van Wyk, 1 Rambo Kubheka. Replacements: 16 Mahle Sithole, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Luan van der Berg, 19 JD Hattingh, 20 Gert Kemp, 21 Jayden Brits, 22 Vusi Moyo, 23 Jade Muller.
Australia U20: 15 Louis Fenwicke, 14 Riley Whitfeld, 13 Leo Jaques, 12 Zach Fittler, 11 Taione Taka, 10 Finn Mackay, 9 Angus Grover, 8 Eli Langi, 7 Tom Robinson (c), 6 Luca Cleverley, 5 Isaac Fonua, 4 Will Ross, 3 Edwin Langi, 2 Ewald Kruger, 1 Jacob Job. Replacements: 16 Tyler Maybery, 17 Nick Hill, 18 Jonah Rangiwai, 19 Kenneth Harris, 20 Toby Brial, 21 Marshall Le Maitre, 22 Jonty Fowler, 23 Chayse Geros.
In a significant upset, Argentina U20 defeated New Zealand U20 25-17 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. This historic victory in Gqeberha marked the first time the Argentine youth side beat the "Junior All Blacks" in the U20 Rugby Championship.
The Argentine pack, led by captain Tomás Dande, provided the platform for flyhalf Manuel Giannantonio to control the game's tempo. Argentina's relentless defensive pressure and clinical finishing resulted in Argentina’s win over the ill-disciplined New Zealand U20.
Scorers:
New Zealand U20: JD Van Der Westhuizen, Finn McLeod, Haki Wiseman. Conversion: Cohen Norrie.
Argentina U20: Luciano Avaca, Ramon Fernandez, Federico Serpa, penalty try. Penalty: Federico Serpa.
Teams:
New Zealand U20: 15 Cohen Norrie, 15 Jay Reihana, 13 Oliver Guerin, 12 Haki Wiseman, 11 JD Van Der Westhuizen, 10 Mika Muliaina, 9 Charlie Sinton, 8 Finn McLeod, 7 Kobe Brownlee, 6 Logan Platt, 5 Jake Frost, 4 Alex Arnold, 3 Alex Hewitt, 2 Josh Findlay, 1 Ethan Webber. Replacements: 16 Luka Patumaka Makata, 17 Charlie Wallis, 18 Dane Johnston, 19 Johnny Falloon, 20 Micah Fale, 21 Boston Krone, 22 Angus Revell, 23 Logan Williams.
Argentina U20: 15 Simón Pfister, 14 Bautista Quiroga Miguens, 13 Pedro Coll (captain), 12 Benjamín Ordiz, 11 Luciano Avaca, 10 Federico Serpa, 9 Juan Preumayr, 8 Federico Torre, 7 Jerónimo Sorondo, 6 Franco Marizza, 5 Bautista Benavides, 4 Joaquin Pascual Viale, 3 Bautista Salinas Mealla, 2 Manuel Cuneo Camargo, 1 Fabrizio Cebron. Replacements: 16 Nicolas Cambiasso, 17 Benjamin Farias Cerioni, 18 German Tello Fredes, 19 Agustin Ponzio, 20 Basillio Canas, 21 Benjamin Ledesma Arocena, 22 Ramon Fernandez, 23 Manuel Giannantonio.