England’s 2026 Junior World Championship opponents confirmed

England U20 Men will open their 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship campaign against Ireland at Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi on Saturday 27th June (12:30 BST kick-off). 

Andy Titterrell’s side, seeded sixth in the tournament, join their Six Nations counterparts in Pool C alongside Argentina and USA.  

2024 champions England will be based in the Georgian capital for the duration of the pool stages, with Matchday 2 against USA taking place on Thursday 2nd July (15:00 BST kick-off) and the Matchday 3 contest against Argentina scheduled for Tuesday 7th July (12:30 BST kick-off).  

World Rugby has confirmed the sport’s pinnacle annual men’s U20 competition will be rebranded from 2026 as the World Rugby Junior World Championship, an expanded 16-team tournament that builds on the proud legacy of U20 international rugby. It will be the first international competition to feature the new trial lowering the tackle height. 

The four pool winners will progress to the semi-finals, while second-placed teams will compete for fifth to eighth place. Third and fourth-placed teams will contest rankings from ninth to 12th and 13th to 16th respectively, with seeding based on pool-stage competition points. The final, taking place on Saturday 18th July, will be hosted at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi.  

Andy Titterrell said: “We’re incredibly excited to have our summer schedule confirmed, in what promises to be a pool full of exciting, closely contested matches. 

“The tournament affords the opportunity to experience playing different rugby styles, with our first matchup against the USA in 13 years and only our fifth test facing Argentina since 2008. 

“There is a lot of rugby to be played between now and the summer, but our main focus is building our connections as a squad in order to earn the right back to top honours.” 


England U20 Men’s 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship fixtures 

England vs. Ireland – Saturday 27th June, 12:30 BST kick-off – Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi 

England vs. USA – Thursday 2nd July, 15:00 BST kick-off – Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi 

Argentina vs. England – Tuesday 7th July, 12:30 BST kick-off – Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi 

Matchday 4 – Sunday 12th July & Monday 13th July – AIA Arena, Kutaisi or Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi 

Matchday 5 – Friday 17th July & Saturday 18th July – AIA Arena, Kutaisi, Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi or Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi ENGLAND’S 2026 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OPPONENTS CONFIRMED