England, New Zealand score first wins of World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia

England and New Zealand scored the first wins of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi and the western city of Kutaisi, as a dozen of the world’s best teams are set to compete in the tournament over the next three weeks.

England defeated Samoa in the first completed match of the tournament that kicked off at the Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi and finished with a final score 74-17. The result has given the young English athletes the lead in Pool A.

The other match running in parallel saw New Zealand overcome Scotland 42-20 in a closely contested fixture at AIA Arena in Kutaisi.

FT: It's a first #WorldRugbyU20s win for @AllBlacks U20s who beat Scotland in Kutaisi pic.twitter.com/gT9HVqq8so

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) May 31, 2017

Ahead with a score 19-10 at half time, the All Blacks extended their lead in the second half and finished with a try in the last minute of the game.

The two cities of the tournament will host four more fixtures today to see teams from all pools complete Matchday One.

Ireland will be playing Italy in Pool B, while Australia will go up against Wales in the second game of Pool A.

Georgia will also kick off their challenge for the U20 trophy this evening, with the junior Lelos taking to the pitch against Argentina in the second match of Pool C.

New Zealand winger Tima Faingaanuku in action against Scotland at AIA Arena in Kutaisi. Photo: Badri Ketiladze/World Rugby.

The fixture will kick off two-and-a-half hours following the pool’s first game between France and South Africa.

Georgia is hosting the World Rugby U20 Championship for the first time, with the tournament set to run through June 18.

The 12 participating teams will compete in three pools at group stage, before play-off stage commences later during the competition.