The 2008 IRB Junior World Championship was the first annual international rugby union competition for Under 20 national teams. All players who were twenty years of age or under on 1 January 2008 were eligible for selection.

This competition replaced the now defunct Under 19 Rugby World Championship and Under 21 Rugby World Championship. The event, organised by rugby's governing body, the International Rugby Board (IRB), was contested by sixteen men's under-20 national teams.

The tournament was held in June and hosted by Wales, at four separate venues, and won by New Zealand.

Venues

CityGroundCapacity
CardiffArms Park13,500
NewportRodney Parade11,700
SwanseaLiberty Stadium20,532
WrexhamRacecourse Ground15,500

Calendar

StageFirst MatchLast Match
Matchday 117:00 2008-06-06to19:00 2008-06-06
Matchday 217:00 2008-06-10to19:00 2008-06-10
Matchday 315:00 2008-06-14to17:00 2008-06-14
Matchday 417:00 2008-06-18to19:00 2008-06-18
Final Day – North Wales18:00 2008-06-21to20:00 2008-06-21
Final Day – South Wales13:00 2008-06-22to19:00 2008-06-22

Pools

Qualified for the Championship Semi-finals
Qualified for the 5th to 8th Placed Playoffs
Qualified for the 9th to 12th Placed Playoffs
Qualified for the 13th to 16th Placed Playoffs

Pool A

Team Played Won Drawn Lost Tries For Against Difference BP Points New Zealand 3 3 0 0 25 173 19 +154 3 15 Argentina 3 2 0 1 6 47 69 –32 1 9 Ireland 3 1 0 2 6 64 109 –45 1 5 Tonga 3 0 0 3 3 46 123 –77 0 0

Match Results
DateHomeScoreAwayVenue
6 June 2008New Zealand48–9TongaArms Park, Cardiff
6 June 2008Argentina17–9IrelandArms Park, Cardiff
10 June 2008Argentina30–10TongaArms Park, Cardiff
10 June 2008New Zealand65–10IrelandArms Park, Cardiff
14 June 2008Ireland45–27TongaArms Park, Cardiff
14 June 2008New Zealand60–0ArgentinaArms Park, Cardiff

Pool B

Team Played Won Drawn Lost Tries For Against Difference BP Points South Africa 3 3 0 0 27 196 32 +164 2 14 Samoa 3 2 0 1 7 60 39 +21 1 9 Scotland 3 1 0 2 8 61 115 –54 1 5 United States 3 0 0 3 3 38 169 –131 0 0

Match Results
DateHomeScoreAwayVenue
6 June 2008South Africa108–18United StatesRacecourse Ground, Wrexham
6 June 2008Samoa29–17ScotlandRacecourse Ground, Wrexham
10 June 2008Samoa20–6United StatesRacecourse Ground, Wrexham
10 June 2008South Africa72–3ScotlandRacecourse Ground, Wrexham
14 June 2008Scotland41–14United StatesRacecourse Ground, Wrexham
14 June 2008South Africa16–11SamoaRacecourse Ground, Wrexham

Pool C

Team Played Won Drawn Lost Tries For Against Difference BP Points England 3 3 0 0 17 119 48 +71 2 14 Australia 3 2 0 1 27 147 47 +100 3 11 Canada 3 1 0 2 5 47 151 –104 0 4 Fiji 3 0 0 3 4 44 111 –67 1 1

Match Results
DateHomeScoreAwayVenue
6 June 2008Australia81–12CanadaRodney Parade, Newport
6 June 2008England41–17FijiRodney Parade, Newport
10 June 2008England60–18CanadaRodney Parade, Newport
10 June 2008Australia53–17FijiRodney Parade, Newport
14 June 2008Australia13–18EnglandRodney Parade, Newport
14 June 2008Fiji10–17CanadaRodney Parade, Newport

Pool D

Team Played Won Drawn Lost Tries For Against Difference BP Points Wales 3 3 0 0 11 85 39 +46 2 14 France 3 2 0 1 13 104 54 +50 3 11 Italy 3 1 0 2 4 48 81 –33 0 4 Japan 3 0 0 3 7 47 110 –63 1 1

Match Results
DateHomeScoreAwayVenue
6 June 2008France53–17JapanLiberty Stadium, Swansea
6 June 2008Wales29–10ItalyLiberty Stadium, Swansea
10 June 2008France32–14ItalyLiberty Stadium, Swansea
10 June 2008Wales33–10JapanLiberty Stadium, Swansea
14 June 2008Japan20–24ItalyLiberty Stadium, Swansea
14 June 2008Wales23–19FranceLiberty Stadium, Swansea

Knockout stage

13th-16th Places Playoffs

Semi-finalsFinal
1Tonga17
4Japan5
Tonga28
Fiji20
3United States22
2Fiji27
13th-16th Places Playoffs
DateHomeScoreAwayVenue
18 June 2008TongaJapanRacecourse Ground, Wrexham
18 June 2008United StatesFijiRacecourse Ground, Wrexham
15th Place Play-Off
DateHomeScoreAwayVenue
21 June 2008JapanUnited StatesRacecourse Ground, Wrexham
13th Place Play-Off
DateHomeScoreAwayVenue
21 June 2008TongaFijiRacecourse Ground, Wrexham

9th-12th Place Playoffs

Semi-finalsFinal
1Ireland9
4Italy6
Ireland39
Scotland12
3Scotland15
2Canada10
9th-12th Places Playoffs
DateHomeScoreAwayVenue
18 June 2008ScotlandCanadaRodney Parade, Newport
18 June 2008IrelandItalyArms Park, Cardiff
11th Place Play-Off
DateHomeScoreAwayVenue
21 June 2008ItalyCanadaArms Park, Cardiff
9th Place Play-Off
DateHomeScoreAwayVenue
21 June 2008IrelandScotlandRodney Parade, Newport

5th-8th Places Playoffs

Semi-finalsFinal
1Argentina6
4France30
France21
Australia42
3Samoa0
2Australia32
5th-8th Places Playoffs
DateHomeScoreAwayVenue
18 June 2008ArgentinaFranceLiberty Stadium, Swansea
18 June 2008SamoaAustraliaLiberty Stadium, Swansea
7th Place Play-Off
DateHomeScoreAwayVenue
21 June 2008ArgentinaSamoaRodney Parade, Newport
5th Place Play-Off
DateHomeScoreAwayVenue
21 June 2008FranceAustraliaArms Park, Cardiff

1st place playoffs

Semi-finalsFinal
1New Zealand31
4Wales6
New Zealand38
England3
3South Africa18
2England26

Semi-finals

18 June 2008 19:15
New Zealand31–6Wales
Rodney Parade, Newport

18 June 2008 19:15
South Africa18–26England
Arms Park, Cardiff

3rd place playoffs

22 June 2008 17:00
Wales18–43South Africa
Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Final

22 June 2008 19:00
New Zealand38–3England
Liberty Stadium, Swansea Attendance: 8537 Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon

See also

External links