2023 U20 Championship Teams: Pool A
2023 marks the first Under 20s Championship since 2019, the subsequent events having been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and fans are eager to once again see the youth players of their nations on the biggest stage. There are 12 teams that will be competing for the Championship, spilt into 3 pools of 4. We’ll be taking a look at the different teams ahead of the first match on June 24th in South Africa.
This week we’ll look at the teams comprising Pool A; France, Japan, New Zealand, and Wales. So without further adieu, let’s take a look at the Pool A sides that will take the field in South Africa later this month.
FRANCE
Best Finish: Champions (2018, 2019)
Coach: Jean-Marc Béderède
Most Recent Result: 67-17 Win over Wales
France are the most recent champions having won the last two U20 Championships in 2018 and 2019, those teams were loaded with talent that have made their way into the national team including the likes of Romain Ntamarck, Louis Carbonel, Jean-Baptise Gros, Arthur Vincent, Cameron Woki, and Guilleume Marchand among others.
The current squad is coached by Béderède after having previously served as the forwards coach in 2021, before being promoted to head coach the following year. He was also coach of the Under 18s team from 2011 to 2016, where he became an assistant for the national team.
Players to keep an eye on includes Léo Drouet, a winger for ProD2 side Aix, he has started 11 of the 12 matches he has played this season and scored 4 tries for his side. More impressive is the 4 tries he ran in against Wales during the U20 Six Nations Cup, where he was tied for first in the tournament with 5 total tries. A familiar name may be noticed in the squad, Posolo Tuilagi. He is the son of former Samoan international, and professional destroyer of men, Henry Tuilagi. A giant name to live up to, but Posolo, standing at 6’4 and 149kg, is already getting regular game time as an 18 year old for Peperignan of the Top 14. He has played in 16 matches between the Top 14 and the Challenge Cup, with all 6 of his starts coming at lock, he already displays the immense physicality that the Tuilagi’s are well known for and will be very hard to miss on the field.
JAPAN
Best Finish: 10th (2015)
Coach: Keisuke Sawaki
Most Recent Result: 33-44 Loss to Samoa
Japan have only played in 5 previous U20s Championships, this being their sixth, but are regular contenders in the lower level Trophy. While they have not had a long history of success their results indicate they are steadily improving. They finished 15th in both 2008 and 2009 and then did not make the Championship again until 2015, where they came 10th. In the last 6 iterations of the tournament, including 2023, they have qualified for 4 and come away with finishes of 10th, 12th, and 12th.
They are currently coached by Keisuke Sawaki a former Brave Blossom and coach for Suntory Sungoliath, now Tokyo Sungoliath, and is the current coach of the Yokohama Canon Eagles, both teams in League One, Japan’s top league. He was also a part of the Japan national team’s coaching staff that defeated South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and was the coaching coordinator for the former Super Rugby franchise, the Sunwolves.
Key players to watch for include the likes of versatile front rower Kota Nagashima who finished off the recent Pacific Challenge with 4 tries in 3 matches against the likes of Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa. Nagashima currently plays for Doshisha University and is a powerful carrier that can slot in at hooker or prop. Centre and captain Yoshiki Omachi has an adept boot as he went 8/11 for conversions in the Pacific Challenge while also nabbing himself a try in what was a very high scoring tournament, he’s a smaller sized centre at 5’8 and 73kg, but the Teikyo University back punches above his weight.
NEW ZEALAND
Best Finish: Champions (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017)
Coach: Clark Laidlaw
Most Recent Result: 19-18 Win over Australia
The Baby Blacks are easily the most successful U20s side in history, claiming a record 6 titles, including 4 in a row between 2008 and 2011. They have won the tournament more times than they have finished outside the top 3 (4 times), and will surely be looking to retake their place on top after they had their worst finish in the tournament in 2019 (7th).
Clark Laidlaw is the coach, a cousin of Greg Laidlaw. He is a former Scottish Sevens international and the current head coach of the New Zealand Sevens side—a team he has guided to Sevens Series championships and an Olympic silver medal since he took over in 2018. He has experience as an assistant for both the Hurricanes of Super Rugby and the former Premiership side London Irish (R.I.P.).
As ever the Baby Blacks are full of talent, some key players to keep an eye out for include burgeoning Sevens star Caleb Tangitau. A powerful runner that has already competed in 21 Sevens competitions and scored 17 tries, he is also attached to the Auckland Blues and recently made his debut against the Rebels this past season, entering the field as a replacement. The imposing 100kg speedster seems poised to break into a larger role for club and country. Noah Hotham is the captain and scrum half for the side, like his teammate he too made his debut this season in Super Rugby, this time for the Crusaders against the Highlanders. This season he has made 7 appearances for the Crusaders, including 3 starts, and even nabbed a try vs Moana Pasifika. He is an intelligent player of the game with an accurate pass and a quick step, expect to see more of him in the future. From the forwards, Peter Lakai is a powerful number 8, unafraid of contact, he is a handful to stop. The Hurricanes product has played in 7 Super Rugby matches this season with 3 starts and a try to his name, the 6’1 109kg freight train has been praised by some as a potential successor to Ardie Savea.
WALES
Best Finish: 2nd (2013)
Coach: Mark Jones
Most Recent Result: 17-67 Loss to France
Wales are a fairly consistent side within this competition, they’ve finished 6th or 7th in 9 of the 12 tournaments they’ve competed in. They’ve still managed a pair of podium finishes and will bring effort to the pitch. The former Six Nations U20 Grand Slam Champs will be looking to shrug off a poor showing at this years Six Nations where they were unable to come away with a victory.
Mark Jones takes the helm for this squad. As an international veteran of 47 caps, he has had numerous stops in a coaching career that began immediately after his retirement in 2010 with his former Scarlets, as the backs coach. He has served in the same position for Wales, the Crusaders, and Canterbury, in addition to defense coach for Worcester and a brief stint as head coach of Namibia at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
Key players to watch for includes captain, Ryan Woodman, a 6’5 107kg lock or backrower who made his professional debut earlier this year for the Dragons in the Challenge Cup. A workhorse forward, Woodman won 26 lineouts plus 2 steals for Wales in the U20 Six Nations while also making 31 tackles and completing 29 carries. Flyhalf Dan Edwards possesses a solid boot as he came second in the Six Nations for both points and goal kicking with 35 points from 15 made kicks, he has yet to make his debut for the Ospreys in the URC but that will likely change soon. He is a crisp passer and a smart kicker.
Overall this is an exciting group with past champions and plenty of young talent dispersed throughout. It would not be surprising if the eventual champion were to come from this group
