New Zealand, Australia and Argentina are sending their U20 Rugby Championship teams to South Africa to face the Junior Boks at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium next month.

The second edition of the U20 Rugby Championship will be played in double-headers on three matchdays between 1-11 May and serves as the ideal warm-up for the four teams preparing to contest the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy in July.

In last year’s inaugural tournament, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, New Zealand edged the Junior Boks for the title after finishing the tournament unbeaten.

The format remains the same, with all teams playing each other once in a three-match round robin across three match days.

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Junior Boks coach Kevin Foote said: “We are absolutely thrilled that the U20 Rugby Championship will be hosted on home soil this year. It’s a rare and special opportunity for the Junior Boks to play in front of our passionate home fans here in South Africa and this tournament is crucial for our preparations ahead of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy.

“We look forward to testing ourselves against the best young rugby players in the southern hemisphere and we hope the Eastern Cape fans will come out in numbers to support us.”

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U20 Rugby Championship fixtures:
Thursday, 1 May
New Zealand vs Australia (2pm)
Junior Boks vs Argentina (4.10pm)
Tuesday, 6 May
New Zealand vs Argentina (2pm)
Junior Boks vs Australia (4.10pm)
Sunday, 11 May
Argentina vs Australia (2pm)
Junior Boks vs New Zealand (4.10pm)

Photo: Albert Perez/Getty Images