The future of international rugby is set for a major boost as World Rugby has announced that Georgia will host an expanded World Rugby U20 Championship in 2026. In a significant strategic move, the prestigious age-grade tournament will grow from 12 to 16 teams, providing a bigger platform for the sport’s emerging talent.
The tournament will be the 16th edition of rugby’s pinnacle competition for up-and-coming players and marks a triumphant return to Georgia, which previously hosted the event in 2017.
A Proven Host on a Grander Scale
This will be the second time the passionate rugby nation of Georgia has welcomed the U20 Championship. The 2017 tournament was widely hailed as a success, remembered for a thrilling final in Tbilisi where a New Zealand side, featuring future All Blacks like Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, and Dalton Papali’i, defeated England 64-17.
That year also proved to be a crucial development milestone for the host nation. Georgia’s own squad featured players such as Akaki Tabutsadze, Tedo Abzhandadze, and Tornike Jalagonia, who have since become mainstays for the senior national team, the Lelos. The matches in 2026 will again be staged in the cities of Tbilisi and Kutaisi.
Why the Expansion?
The decision to increase the number of participating teams to 16 for the first time since 2009 follows extensive consultation with national unions. World Rugby aims to increase the global competitiveness of the sport and strengthen the pathway from age-grade rugby to the senior Men’s Rugby World Cup.
“We are delighted to bring the World Rugby U20 Championship back to Georgia,” said Nigel Cass, World Rugby Chief of Rugby Competitions, Performance and Development. “The return of the tournament… now expanded to 16 teams, is a significant step forward in our mission to enhance global competitiveness and provide more young players with the opportunity to shine on the international stage.”
Who’s In? The New Teams Explained
The expansion has an immediate impact on the current 2025 tournament, as there will be no relegation for the team that finishes last. The 12 teams currently competing in Italy will be joined in 2026 by four additional nations:
- Fiji: Relegated from the U20 Championship in 2024.
- USA, Japan, and Uruguay: The second, third, and fourth-place finishers from the 2024 U20 Trophy.
This marks a significant return to the top-tier competition for several nations. While Japan last played in the U20 Championship in 2023, it will be the first appearance in over a decade for both Uruguay (last seen in 2009) and the USA (last seen in 2013).
A “Historic Decision” for Georgia
Georgian Rugby Union President, Davit Kacharava, celebrated the news as a moment of great significance for the country.
“This is the second time we have the honour of hosting the World Rugby U20 Championship – an event that holds great significance not only for the development of Georgian rugby but for our country as a whole,” Kacharava stated. He emphasized the crucial role of government support in securing the hosting rights.
“I firmly believe that hosting the U20 Championship will spark a new wave of interest in rugby across Georgia. More young people will be inspired to take up the sport,” he added. “In difficult times, sport remains a powerful unifier – a source of hope and joy.”
As the 2025 edition concludes this weekend in Italy with a final between New Zealand and South Africa, the global rugby community now looks forward to 2026, when Georgia will once again welcome the world and showcase the next generation of rugby superstars on its biggest stage yet.
