England, New Zealand score first wins of World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia
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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.
All games of the championship are streamed live on the official tournament website, in addition to broadcaster coverage.
Georgian national rugby team will face world’s number three team Australia as well as Wales among other competitors in their 2019 Rugby World Cup pool.
Georgia’s Under 18 rugby team will face hosts France in the U18 Rugby Europe Championship 2017 final after defeating Japan in the tournament’s semifinal match on Tuesday.
Georgia are guaranteed a place at next year's World Rugby Under 20 Championship after defeating Argentina at the ongoing U20 tournament in Tbilisi earlier today.
The Georgian rugby team has taken 10th place at this year’s World Rugby Under 20 Championship, after Ireland defeated the young ‘Lelos’ 24 to 18 today.
Chairman of World Rugby Bill Beauont sent a letter to Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili in which he thanked the Government of Georgia and the country’s rugby leadership for ensuring "top class” under 20 Championship.
Georgia's junior national rugby team will have the opportunity to face leading Six Nations teams starting next year, following an initiative by organisers of the prestigious tournament to invite the Junior Lelos for a new competition.