The 2014 IRB Junior World Championship was the seventh annual international rugby union competition for Under 20 national teams. The event was organised in Auckland, New Zealand by rugby's governing body, World Rugby, then known as the International Rugby Board. A total of 12 nations took part in the tournament. England went into the tournament as defending champions, after winning the tournament for the first time in 2013. England went on to win the Championship for a second time in two years. While hosts New Zealand, the most successful team in the tournament, were looking to win the title for the first time since 2011.

Italy were the champions of the 2013 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy, thus being promoted to the Championship. Fiji finished last in 2014 and therefore were relegated to the World Rugby Under 20 Trophy for 2015.

This was the final event to be known as the "IRB Junior World Championship". Following the renaming of the governing body as World Rugby, the Championship was renamed the World Rugby Under 20 Championship, and the second-tier competition was renamed from "IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy" to World Rugby U20 Trophy.

Venues

The championship was held across three two location, Auckland and Pukekohe. ECOLight Stadium and QBE Stadium are only designated to the pool matches, while Eden Park will be used for top three play-offs; Final, 3rd place play-off and 5th place play-off.

City/TownVenueCapacity
AucklandEden Park50,000
AucklandQBE Stadium25,000
PukekoheECOLight Stadium12,000

Teams

The following teams participated in the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship:

PoolTeamNo. of TournamentsPosition 2013Position 2014Notes
AArgentina76th9th
AAustralia77th5th
AEngland71st1stChampions
AItaly5DNP11thPromoted from 2013 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy
BFiji711th12thRelegated to 2015 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy
BFrance75th6th
BIreland78th4th
BWales72nd7th
CSamoa59th8th
CScotland710th10th
CNew Zealand74th3rdBronze Medal Winner
CSouth Africa73rd2ndRunners-up

Match officials

Below are the list of officials that officiated across the 30 matches:

Referees Argentina Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Australia Angus Gardner (Australia) Australia Matt O'Brien (Australia) France Alexandre Ruiz (France) Japan Akihisa Aso (Japan) New Zealand Ben O'Keefe (New Zealand) Romania Vlad Iordăchescu (Romania) South Africa Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa) Uruguay Joaquín Montes (Uruguay)Reserve or Assistant Referees New Zealand Brett Johnson (New Zealand) New Zealand Richard Kelly (New Zealand) New Zealand Angus Mabey (New Zealand) New Zealand Shane McDermott (New Zealand) New Zealand Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) New Zealand Grant Stuart (New Zealand) New Zealand Paul Williams (New Zealand) Television match officials New Zealand Vinny Munro (New Zealand) New Zealand Glenn Newman (New Zealand) New Zealand Peter Nock (New Zealand) New Zealand Aaron Paterson (New Zealand) New Zealand Ben Skeen (New Zealand) New Zealand Chris Wratt (New Zealand)

Pool stage

The playing schedule and pools were announced on 28 November 2013.

Key to colours in group tables
Teams advances to Finals
Teams in the 5–8th place play-offs
Teams in the 9–12th place play-offs

All times are in New Zealand Standard Time (UTC+12)

The points awarded in the Pool Stage are as follows:

  • 4 points for a win
  • 2 points for a draw
  • 1 bonus scoring point for scoring 4 or more tries
  • 1 bonus losing point for losing by 7 or less points
  • 0 points for a loss above 7 points

If at completion of the Pool Stage two or more teams are level on points the following tiebreakers are applied:

  1. The winner of the Match in which the two tied Teams have played each other;
  2. The Team which has the best difference between points scored for and points scored against in all its Pool Matches;
  3. The Team which has the best difference between tries scored for and tries scored against in all its Pool Matches;
  4. The Team which has scored most points in all its Pool Matches;
  5. The Team which has scored most tries in all its Pool Matches; and
  6. If none of the above produce a result, then it will be resolved with a toss of a coin.

Pld = matches played, W = matches won, D = draws, L = losses, PF = match points for, PA = match points against, PD = Points difference between match points for and match points against, TF = tries for, TA = tries against, BP = bonus points, Pts = pool points

Pool A

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA BP Pts England 3 3 0 0 118 43 +75 15 4 2 14 Australia 3 2 0 1 89 58 +31 11 7 2 10 Italy 3 1 0 2 35 118 −83 2 15 0 4 Argentina 3 0 0 3 59 82 −23 5 7 2 2

2 June 2014Argentina17–36AustraliaECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
13:35Try: Heiland 30 c Montagner 67' c Con: Fernández (2/2) 32', 68' Pen: Fernández (1/1) 39'ReportTry: Alaalatoa 25' c Kellaway (2) 49' m, 60' c Lacey 64' m Con: McIntyre (2/4) 26', 61' Pen: McIntyre (4/5) 2', 11', 19', 71'Referee: South Africa Marius van der Westhuizen
2 June 2014England63–3ItalyECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
17:35Try: Earle (3) 12' m, 46' c, 48' c Jones (2) 21' c, 58' c Chisholm (2) 34' m, 51' c Burns 66' c Catchpole 74' m Con: Olver (5/7) 22', 47', 49', 52', 59' Burns (1/2) 67' Pen: Olver (2/2) 3', 9'ReportPen: Buscema (1/1) 7' Cards: Derrick Appiah 25' to 35'Referee: Australia Angus Gardner
6 June 2014Argentina26–29ItalyQBE Stadium, Auckland
15:35Try: Ramirez 18' c Ezcurra 44' Con: Fernández (2/2) 19' , 45' Pen: Fernández (4/5) 3' , 32', 54', 71' Cards: Fernández 34' to 44'ReportTry: Di Giulio 6' c Bruno 37' Con: Buscema (2/2) 7', 38' Pen: Buscema (4/7) 35', 43', 68', 75' Drop: Buscema (1/2) 47'Referee: Australia Matt O'Brien
6 June 2014England38–24AustraliaQBE Stadium, Auckland
17:35Try: Taylor (2) 12' c, 18' c Earle (2) 31' c, 62' c Jones 43' c Con: Burns (5/5) 13', 19', 32', 44', 63' Pen: Burns (1/3) 8'ReportTry: Kellaway (2) 5' c, 34' c McIntyre 48' c Con: McIntyre (2/2) 6', 49' Horwitz (1/1) 35' Pen: McIntyre (1/1) 26'Referee: New Zealand Ben O'Keeffe
10 June 2014Australia29–3ItalyECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
15:35Try: Kaitu'u 15' c Haylett-Perry 20' c Burton 39' c Jack Payne 51' m Con: Burton (3/4) 17', 22', 39' Pen: Burton (1/1) 35'ReportPen: De Santis (1/1) 25' Drop: De Santis (0/1)Referee: Romania Vlad Iordăchescu
10 June 2014England17–16ArgentinaQBE Stadium, Auckland
17:35Try: Catchpole 54' m Con: Olver (0/1) Pen: Olver (4/4) 4', 21', 25', 79' Cards: Harry Rudkin 61' to 71'ReportTry: Boffelli 70' c Con: Fernandez (1/1) 70' Pen: Fernandez (3/5) 11', 24', 42' Cards: Tomas Granella 25' to 35'Referee: Uruguay Joaquín Montes

Pool B

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA BP Pts Ireland 3 2 0 1 86 40 +46 10 4 3 11 Wales 3 2 0 1 82 57 +25 10 7 1 9 France 3 2 0 1 59 31 +28 7 3 1 9 Fiji 3 0 0 3 24 123 −99 4 17 0 0

2 June 2014Wales48–19FijiECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
15:35Try: Howells 1' m Benjamin (2) 28' m, 66' c Penalty Try (2) 40' c, 52' c Roach 80' m Con: O'Brien (3/6) 40', 53', 68' Pen: O'Brien (4/4', 8', 11', 37ReportTry: Robarobalevu 13' m Tabualevu 34' c Toga 78' c Con: Mroisio (1/2) 35' Kurukava (1/1) 79' Cards: Lote Nasiga 23' to 33' Aseri Robarobalevu 39' to 79'Referee: Japan Akihisa Aso
2 June 2014France19–13IrelandQBE Stadium, Auckland
17:35Try: Roux 30' c Con: Serin (1/1) 32' Pen: Serin (2/2) 9', 14' Drop: Fajardo (2/2) 35', 63'ReportTry: Kelleher 35' c Con: Byrne (1/1) 36' Pen: Byrne (1/2) 6' McKeon (1/1) 68'Referee: Australia Matt O'Brien
6 June 2014France37–5FijiECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
15:35Try: Daubagna 16' m Penalty Try 34' c Lespinasse 48' m Fontaine 57' c Courcoul 63' m Bonneval 74' m Con: Daubagna (2/5) 34', 58' Meret (0/1) Pen: Daubagna (0/1) Cards: Simon Courcoul 40' to 50'ReportTry: Mudu 40' m Con: Kurukava (0/1) Cards: Vincent Sosefo 35' to 45' Maika Baleinaloto 31'Referee: Romania Vlad Iordăchescu
6 June 2014Wales21–35IrelandECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
17:35Try: Morgan 20' c Penalty Try 39' c Benjamin 46' c Con: O'Brien (3/3) 21', 40', 47' Drop: O'Brien (0/1) Cards: Jack Dixon 66' to 76'ReportTry: Burke 4' c Ringrose (2) 11' c, 51' c Kelleher 76' m Con: Byrne (3/4) 5', 12', 52' Pen: Byrne (3/4) 24', 59', 72'Referee: Argentina Federico Anselmi
10 June 2014Ireland38–0FijiQBE Stadium, Auckland
13:35Try: Penalty Try (3) 31' c, 40' c, 67' Gaffney 49' c McKeon 78' c Con: Ringrose (5/5) 32', 41', 50', 68', 79' Pen: Ringrose (1/2) 8'ReportPen: Kurokava (0/1) Vueti (0/1) Cards: Vincent Sosefo 30' to 40' Ameniasi Natuiyaga 37' to 47' Aseri Robarobalevu 40' to 50'Referee: France Alexandre Ruiz
10 June 2014Wales13–3FranceQBE Stadium, Auckland
15:35Try: Williams 53' c Con: O'Brien (1/1) 53' Pen: O'Brien (2/3) 26', 41'ReportPen: Serin (1/1) 23' Drop: Serin (0/1)Referee: South Africa Marius van der Westhuizen

Pool C

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA BP Pts South Africa 3 3 0 0 115 37 +78 16 5 2 14 New Zealand 3 2 0 1 126 52 +74 18 7 2 10 Samoa 3 1 0 2 47 87 −40 6 13 0 4 Scotland 3 0 0 3 30 142 −112 5 20 0 0

2 June 2014South Africa61–5ScotlandQBE Stadium, Auckland
15:35Try: Schoeman 17' c Petersen 28' c Greeff (2) 45' c, 79' c Kriel (2) 49' c, 74' c Marx 56' c Gelant 58' c Davis 65' m Con: Pollard (7/8) 17', 29', 46', 50', 57', 59', 74' Du Plessis 80' Pen: Pollard (0/1)ReportTry: Farndale 9' m Con: Chalmers (0/1)Referee: Uruguay Joaquín Montes
2 June 2014New Zealand48–12SamoaQBE Stadium, Auckland
19:35Try: Garden-Bachop (2) 12' m, 48' m Drummond 23' c Peni 36' c Li 72' c Lienert-Brown 76' c Harris 78' c Con: Mo'unga (2/4) 24', 37' Hickey (3/3) 74', 77', 79' Pen: Mo'unga (1/1) 6'ReportTry: Lee 40' c Apa 59' m Con: Mu (1/2) 40'Referee: Argentina Federico Anselmi
6 June 2014Scotland18–27SamoaECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
13:35Try: Farndale 37' m Pecquer 51' m Ritchie 72' m Con: Hutchinson (0/1) Lowe (0/2) Pen: Hutchinson (1/2) 19'ReportTry: Kueffner 24' c Apa 43' c Mu 47' c Con: Mu (3/3) 25', 44', 48' Pen: Mu (2/2) 5', 69' Cards: Cameron Skelton 30' to 40' Jotham Wrampling 31' to 41'Referee: Australia Angus Gardner
6 June 2014New Zealand24–33South AfricaQBE Stadium, Auckland
19:35Try: Li (3) 13' c, 24' c, 78' c Con: Hickey (2/2) 14', 25' Mo'unga (1/1) 78' Pen: Hickey (1/1) 36' Cards: James Tucker 71' to 80'ReportTry: Kriel 32' m Pollard 47' c Greeff 57' m Gelant 71' c Con: Pollard (2/4) 47', 72' Pen: Pollard (3/3) 7', 11', 31' Drop: Pollard (0/1)Referee: France Alexandre Ruiz
10 June 2014Samoa8–21South AfricaECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
17:35Try: Apa 31' m Con: Talataina Mu (0/1) Pen: Talataina Mu (1/4) 40' Cards: Richard Mariota 34' to 44' Nathaniel Apa 48' to 58'ReportTry: Davis 37' c Esterhuizen 63' c Petersen 79' c Con: Pollard (3/3) 38', 64', 79' Pen: Pollard (0/2)Referee: New Zealand Ben O'Keeffe
10 June 2014New Zealand54–7ScotlandECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
19:35Try: Sanders 11' c Renton (2) 15'c, 48' c Jacobson 34' c McKenzie 58' c Faiane 65' m Aso 71' c Fukofuka 80' c Con: Hickey (2/2) 12', 16' Mo'unga (5/6) 35', 49', 59', 72', 80'ReportTry: Hoyland 76' c Con: Lowe (1/1) 77' Pen: Chalmers (0/2)Referee: Japan Akihisa Aso

Standings after Pool Stage

Pool PosPosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDTFTABPPts
Overall Standings
C11South Africa330011537+78165214
A12England330011843+75154214
B13Ireland32018640+46104311
C24New Zealand320112652+74187210
A25Australia32018958+31117210
B26Wales32018257+2510719
B37France32015931+287−319
C38Samoa31024787−4061304
A39Italy310235118−8321504
A410Argentina30035982−235722
B411Fiji300324123−8941700
C412Scotland300330142−11252000

Knockout stage

9–12th place play-offs

Semifinals9th place
Argentina38
Fiji12
Argentina41
Scotland21
Italy18
Scotland21
11th place
Fiji17
Italy22

Semifinals

15 June 2014Argentina38–12FijiECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
12:35Try: penalty try 13' c Alvarez 35' m Gigena 56' m Schulz 60' m Bazan Velez 77' c Con: Fernandez (2/5) 13', 78' Pen: Fernandez (3/3) 23', 33', 39' Drop: Boffelli (0/1)ReportTry: Lagi 64' m Vueti 75' c Con: Kurokava (0/1) Vueti (1/1) 65' Cards: Vasikali Mudu 13' to 23'Referee: New Zealand Ben O'Keefe
15 June 2014Italy18–21ScotlandECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
15:05Try: D. Di Giulio 34' m Giammarioli 68' c Con: Buscema (1/2) 69' Pen: Buscema (2/4) 4', 21' Drop: Buscema (0/1)ReportTry: Ritchie 45' c Irvine-Hess 54' c Rae 59' c Con: R. Hutchison (3/3) 46', 55', 60'Referee: Uruguay Joaquín Montes

11th place game

20 June 2014Fiji17–22ItalyQBE Stadium, Auckland
12:35Try: Kurukava 46' c Mudu 80' c Con: Fraser (1/1) 47' Vueti (1/1) 80' Pen: Fraser (1/2) 20' Cards: Samu Tawake 71' to 80'ReportTry: Parisotto 14' m Cornelli 32' c Daniele 54' m Di Giulio 73' m Con: Buscema (1/2) 32' De Santis (0/2)Referee: Romania Vlad Iordăchescu

9th place game

20 June 2014Argentina41–21ScotlandQBE Stadium, Auckland
15:05Try: Lezana 20' c Montagner 30' c Fernandez 69' c Boffelli 79' m Con: Fernandez (3/4) 21', 31', 70' Pen: Fernandez (5/7) 10', 26', 34', 57', 78',ReportTry: Bradbury 35' c MacDonald 45' c Lowe 64' c Con: Hutchinson (2/2) 36', 46' Lowe (1/1) 65'Referee: Australia Angus Gardner

5–8th place play-offs

Semifinals5th place
Australia53
Samoa16
Australia34
France27
Wales18
France19
7th place
Samoa3
'Wales20

Semifinals

15 June 2014Australia53–16SamoaQBE Stadium, Auckland
14:35Try: Kellaway (4) 8' m, 17' c, 24' c, 57' c Lacey (2) 13' c, 49' m Stewart 43' c Foketi 64' m Con: McIntyre (5/7) 14', 18', 25', 44', 58' Pen: McIntyre (1/1) 5'ReportTry: Luamanu 70' m Fa'aso'o 78' m Con: Talataina Mu (0/2) Pen: Fagasua (1/1) 3' Talataina Mu (1/1) 39' Cards: Jotham Wrampling 46' to 56'Referee: South Africa Marius van der Westhuizen
15 June 2014Wales18–19FranceECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
17:35Try: Dixon 19' c Tyler Morgan 31' c Con: O'Brien (1/2) 20' Pen: O'Brien (2/4) 5', 47'ReportTry: Thomas 2' c Raynaud 37' m Singer 67' c Con: Serin (2/3) 3', 69' Pen: Serin (0/1) Cards: Tommy Raynaud 46' to 56'Referee: Australia Matt O'Brien

7th place game

20 June 2014Wales20–3SamoaQBE Stadium, Auckland
17:35Try: Howells 6' m Benjamin (2) 20' m, 64' c Con: Davies (1/3) 65' Pen: Davies (1/2) 25'ReportPen: Mu (1/1) 14' Cards: Ieremia Mataena 24' to 34'Referee: Japan Akihisa Aso

5th place game

20 June 2014France27–34AustraliaEden Park, Auckland
14:35Try: Blanc 2' c Hamdaoui 9' c Mignot 28' c Con: Serin (3/3) 3', 10', 29' Pen: Serin (1/2) 14' Drop: Fajardo (1/1) 10'ReportTry: McMahon (2) 16' c, 20' c Kellaway (2) 45' c, 56' m Scoble 76' m Con: McIntyre (3/4) 17', 21', 46' Horwitz (0/1) Pen: Burton (1/1) 80'Referee: Argentina Federico Anselmi

Finals

SemifinalsFinal
England42
Ireland15
England21
South Africa20
South Africa32
New Zealand25
3rd place
Ireland23
New Zealand45

Semifinals

15 June 2014England42–15IrelandQBE Stadium, Auckland
17:05Try: Sloan 8' c Hobbs-Awoyemi 21' c Packman 27' c Woolstencroft 33' c Jones 54' m Con: Burns (4/5) 9', 22', 28', 34' Pen: Burns (2/2) 4', 12' Drop: Packman (1/1) 48'ReportTry: Ringrose 50' c Wootton 68' m Con: Byrne (1/1) 50' Pen: Byrne (1/1) 19'Referee: Australia Angus Gardner
15 June 2014South Africa32–25New ZealandQBE Stadium, Auckland
19:35Try: Pollard 15' c Petersen 51' c Esterhuizen 70' m Els 78' c Con: Pollard (3/4) 16', 52', 79' Pen: Pollard (2/3) 40', 57' Drop: Pollard (0/1) Cards: André Esterhuizen 29' to 39'ReportTry: Faiva 4' m Li 32' c Aso 66' c Con: Mo'unga (0/1) McKenzie (2/2) 33', 67' Pen: McKenzie (2/2) 30', 42'Referee: Argentina Federico Anselmi

3rd place game

20 June 2014Ireland23–45New ZealandEden Park, Auckland
17:05Try: penalty try 23' c Heffernan 32' c Con: Byrne (2/2) 24', 33' Pen: Byrne (3/3) 10', 15', 28' Cards: Cian Kelleher 60' to 70'ReportTry: Li (2) 8' c, 29' c Mo'unga (2) 20' c, 72' c Tucker 50' m Drummond 67' c Boshier 79' m Con: McKenzie (5/7) 9', 21', 30', 68', 73' Cards: James Tucker 27' to 37' 74' to 80'Referee: France Alexandre Ruiz

Final

20 June 2014England21–20South AfricaEden Park, Auckland
19:35Try: Earle 39' m Conlon 52' c Con: Burns (1/2) 53' Pen: Burns (2/3) 17', 44' Morris (1/1) 37'ReportTry: Kriel (2) 20' c, 64' c Con: Pollard (2/2) 21', 65' Pen: Pollard (2/2) 14', 46' Drop: Pollard (0/1)Referee: New Zealand Ben O'Keefe

Notes

External links

  • –from IRB website