World Rugby is consulting with national unions and regional associations regarding the possibility of expanding the annual World Rugby U20 Championship from 12 to 16 teams from 2026 as part of a wide-ranging review of men’s age-grade competition structures aimed at increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of international rugby.
World Rugby is consulting with national unions and regional associations regarding the possibility of expanding the annual World Rugby U20 Championship from 12 to 16 teams from 2026 as part of a wide-ranging review of men’s age-grade competition structures aimed at increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of international rugby.
World Rugby recognises that age-grade rugby is a proven pathway for international stars, and consultation is part of a broader strategy to better align international age-grade structures with the sport’s strategic mission of growing global competitiveness ahead of a new international calendar coming into effect in 2026 featuring a two-division Nations Cup and an expanded 24-team Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
Central to the focus on raising standards, World Rugby is recommending replacing the existing U20 Trophy with cross-regional competition from 2025, creating stronger pathways and more competitive matches for teams seeking to qualify for the new expanded U20 Championship in 2026. This approach will foster a fair and sustainable global pathway, and World Rugby is working closely with stakeholders to optimise competition structures and introduce mechanisms, such as promotion and relegation, to provide development opportunities for all unions.
These regional U20 competitions would be supported by increased funding from the international federation to bolster structures and opportunities for all unions. This year, the World Rugby Executive Board approved a £2.6 million increase in regional investment through to 2027. This investment is in addition to a record £300 million investment directly into unions and regions over the same period and an additional record investment of £68 million in high-performance initiatives.