Rugby, the under 20 World Cup starts in Italy: dates, formula and rivals of Italy

After 10 years the Under 20 World Cup of Rugby returns to Italy, the tournament that every year puts the 12 best youth national teams in the world every year. The 15th edition starts on Sunday 29 June, the finals scheduled for July 19 in Rovigo and Calvisano: yes, the plural is a must, because all the formations will play 5 games regardless of the placements of the first phase. This is because the World Rugby Under 20 Championship (full name of the tournament) includes a complete ranking from the first to 12th place, and it is not a trivial fact, because the last relegated to the “trophy”, in fact the “Second Division” of the Under 20 World Cup. Each match of “Italy 2025”, therefore, can be decisive, both for those who want to get on the roof of the world and for those who want to stay at the top. The Azzurrini will take the field on Sunday evening against the Baby Blacks, New Zealand, and then faced Ireland on Friday 4 and Georgia on Wednesday 9 July. Semi -finals scheduled for July 14, Finals – as mentioned – on the 19th. The seats of the tournament will be 4: Calvisano (Province of Brescia), Viadana (province of Mantua), Verona and Rovigo. Each day affects 2 stadiums and includes 6 games divided into 3 for each location: the match of the Azzurrini in Calvisano against the Baby Blacks (and consequently also the other games of the day) is already sold out, while the sale of tickets for the other days in the various locations continues.

the formula and groups

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That of the Under 20 World Cup is now a tested formula: 3 Italian groups of 4 teams, with the winners of each grouping and the best second that access the semifinals for the title. The other seconds and the 2 best thirds access the semifinals to outline the ranking from 5th to 8th and – above all – they avoid the last tournament, the one that will concern the worst third and last classified of the days and which will decide the ranking from 9th to 12th place, what is worth relegation. Each team disputes its semifinal and based on the result the final for a placement, and that for the 11th -12nd place in fact a playout not to relegate. Favorite of the Local Champion and winner of the last six category nations, while France as always can always count on a crazy youth movement that allows her to choose between dozens of players ready for the high level, favored. Behind the two Europeans is New Zealand, who won the Rugby Championship Under 20 (the “four nations” with Australia, South Africa and Argentina) but also be careful of the Australians, who came second behind New Zealanders and in front of South Africa. The assignment of the scores in the first phase is the canonical one: 4 points to the winner, 2 each in the event of a tie and 0 to the defeat. To the basic scores are added 2 possibilities to obtain the bonus point: losing with 7 or less waste points or scoring at least 4 goals. It is also possible to get both bonuses in the same game, thus gaining 2 points even in case of defeat. Group A: England, Australia, South Africa, Scotland Group B: France, Argentina, Wales, Spain group C: New Zealand, Ireland, Georgia, Italy.

Italy

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The Azzurrini come from a six nations made of ups and downs where despite everything they touched the podium by beating Scotland and Ireland, as well as putting the world champion England in charge and then also winner of the tournament in great difficulty. At the World Cup after the “crash test” with Baby Blacks, the challenge with Ireland will be decisive for the ambitions of Italy: the goal is to escape the semifinals 9th -12th place, which succeeded only twice (2017 and 2018, when the Azzurrini arrived eighth, better placement ever) and which would allow the boys led by Roberto Santamaria to not have to play in order not to relegate and try to improve the best placement. The group, however, is quite difficult: it is true that the Azzurrini have already beaten Ireland – which this year is certainly not unbeatable – but will have to close the group against Georgia, against which they lost both in 2023 and in 2024 and in both cases that defeat condemned them to the semifinals not to retreat. Considering that the best third ends up in the playouts, a victory may not be enough: two are needed to be safe. Italy will not have Malik Faissal available, one of the stars of the last six nations and put Ko by a shoulder injury, but finds a firm point of the fray pack like Piero Gritti (already present at the last world championship and absent from the six nations for a bad injury) and will rely on the boys who have already shone in the last six nations, from Todaro to Casartelli up to Zanandrea, Milan and Dragon.

Where to see the Italy World Championship 2025

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All Italy’s matches will be broadcast live both by Rai Sport and Sky. The opening match between Australia and South Africa will also be visible on the Rai, one of the two semifinals for the title and the final. In addition to the 5 of the Azzurrini Sky will also broadcast 9 other games, with the big match of the group stage, the semifinals for the title and the final. All the other matches of the tournament will be visible in live streaming (for a fee) on the online platform The Rugby Channel.