England to face defending champions South Africa and France clinch New Zealand showdown as two huge semi-finals are confirmed after an enthralling conclusion of the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 pool stage in Georgia.
In two thrilling matches that went right down to the wire, England edged Argentina 40-38 in Tbilisi to top Pool C before France beat Australia 34-29 in the Pool D decider in Kutaisi.
Defending champions South Africa overpowered Wales 52-33 and New Zealand defeated Italy 45-15 to claim top spot in Pool A and B respectively.
France will take on New Zealand in the first semi-final on Monday, 13 July before the Junior Springboks face England, the quartet bidding to all reach the title decider at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi on 18 July.
SOUTH AFRICA 52-33 WALES: Junior Springboks keep title defence on course
South Africa recovered from a sluggish start to show their class and book a semi-final date with England as they bid to defend their Junior World Championship title.
The Junior Springboks trailed 14-0 after just 10 minutes to a vibrant Wales side in this Pool A decider at Avchala Stadium in the Georgian capital, but they recovered superbly to score 26 unanswered points for a half-time lead.
From there they did not look back and, despite Wales coming back strongly with a third try early in the second half, South Africa ultimately outscored Richard Whiffin’s side – who now face Australia in the fifth place semi-finals – by eight tries to five.
The Junior Springboks have now won their last nine matches at the Junior World Championship – their longest-ever run in the tournament – and it will take a special team to stop them retaining their crown.
Flanker Caio James crashed over to put Wales ahead in the right corner before co-captain Steffan Emanuel added a superb second to encourage hopes of a famous Welsh victory.
Yet the Junior Springboks kept their composure and hit back with four tries before the break as Hendre Schoeman, Ethan Adams, captain Siphosethu Mnebelele and Heinrich Theron all touched down.
Flanker Risima Khosa added a fifth South African try early in the second half with Wales duo Osian Lewis and Tom Bowen scoring either side of a sixth Junior Springboks’ score from Liam van Wyk.
Van Wyk and Mnebelele then completed their braces to cap a handsome victory for the reigning champions before Wales claimed a late consolation try through Lewis Edwards.
NEW ZEALAND 45-15 ITALY: New Zealand show their class to book semi-final showdown with France
New Zealand have lifted the Junior World Championship trophy since 2017, but they reached their 13th semi-final in 16 tournaments with a comfortable win over Italy.
Victory over a spirited Azzurrini at AIA Arena in Kutaisi ensured Kane Jury’s much-changed side topped Pool B to set up a last-four battle against Les Bleuets.
New Zealand had the bonus point in the bag by half-time after tries from Bradley Tocker, David Lewai, captain Josh Findlay and Charlie Sinton before Lautasi Etuale, Cohen Norrie and Siale Pahulu added second-half scores.
It said much for New Zealand’s quality that they were able to take almost total control despite not always hitting top gear – and after being forced into changes before kick-off.
After Mika Muliaina was ruled out, Norrie replaced him at fly-half, Logan Williams moved to full-back and Etuale was promoted from the bench to a starting spot on the left wing.
Italy proved spirited opponents and led through centre Giacomo Falchetto but second-row Simone Fardin was shown a yellow card and from there New Zealand took total control.
Tocker and Lewai touched down and, although number eight Enoch Opoku Gyamfi powered over for a second Italy try, New Zealand scored twice more before the break through Findlay and Sinton.
Etuale, Norrie and Pahulu added to New Zealand’s try tally before David Luisato scored a consolation try for Italy, who will now take on Georgia in the ninth place semi-finals in Kutaisi.
ARGENTINA 38-40 ENGLAND: England eye semi-final date with South Africa after outgunning Los Pumitas in Tbilisi thriller
Four-time champions England hung on for a dramatic victory against Argentina at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi to clinch top spot in Pool C and a semi-final with defending champions South Africa.
Having already beaten Ireland and USA, Andy Titterrell’s men made it three bonus-point wins from three to register a fifth successive pool-stage victory over Los Pumitas at the Junior World Championship.
However, they were pushed all the way by a vibrant Argentina outfit who were outscored by six tries to five as England held on during a tense finale which saw them have two players sin-binned.
Argentina’s counter-attacking brilliance – a huge feature of this year’s tournament – came to the fore again when their inspirational captain Tomas Dande broke from deep for a superb opener.
England centre Will Knight then burst clear for a converted try with James Pater, Jimmy Staples and Aiden Ainsworth-Cave also going over before half-time.
Argentina scored again through Manuel Cuneo Camargo but also lost centre Benjamin Ordiz Yujnovsky to a red card and England edged clear after the break.
Ainsworth-Cave and Pater both completed braces but Los Pumitas scored their third and fourth tries through Bautista Lescano and the prolific Simon Pfister, the tournament’s leading try-scorer.
After England duo Elliot Williams and Knight were sin-binned in quick succession going into the final 10 minutes, Argentina scored again through Lescano and Pfister with his second – and seventh of the tournament – but Titterrell’s side held on despite Los Pumitas going through multiple phases with time up on the clock.
FRANCE 34-29 AUSTRALIA: Les Bleuets show title pedigree after edging out Australia
Three-time Junior World Championship winners France secured their ninth semi-final appearance after edging out Australia in this enthralling Pool D decider.
Les Bleuets made it three wins from three after previous victories over Fiji and Spain to set up a last-four showdown with New Zealand and encourage French hopes of a fourth title.
Only New Zealand and England have been crowned champions more times than France and they showed their mettle to see off the Junior Wallabies, who will now face Wales in the fifth place semi-finals, after outscoring them by five tries to four.
Treyvon Pritchard gave Australia an early lead, but the response from Les Bleuets was emphatic. Their hugely influential flanker and captain Lucas Andjisseramatchi scored twice either side of a second French score from winger Melvyn Rates.
Luca Cleverley hit back for Chris Whitaker’s Junior Wallabies to leave the half-time score at 22-12 in France’s favour.
Gabin Garault and Baptiste Tilloles added to Les Bleuets’ tally after the break and, despite scoring twice more themselves through Wallace Charlie and Edwin Langi, Australia’s efforts fell just short.
They were not helped by yellow cards for second-rows Will Ross and Toby Brial but it was an incredible effort from both sets of players during an energy-sapping encounter.
