Gqeberha to host 2026 SANZAAR U20 Rugby Championship

The best junior rugby talent from South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina is set to converge on the Eastern Cape as the SANZAAR U20 Rugby Championship returns to the iconic Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

For the second successive year, the southern hemisphere’s next generation of stars will descend on Gqeberha. The three-round tournament kicks off on Freedom Day, 27 April, followed by match days on 3 and 9 May. The competition serves as critical preparation for the Junior World Championship, which will be held in Georgia this June and July.

New Zealand enters the tournament as defending champions, having edged out Australia by a single point in last year’s standings. The championship is designed as a high-performance pathway, providing emerging talent with international experience intended to springboard them into senior representative rugby.

The tournament’s impact was evident last year; following the TRC U20 event, the Junior Boks and New Zealand Under-20s both reached the Junior World Championship final, where captain Riley Norton’s South African side secured the gold medal.

SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament’s return to the region:

“Following the success of the tournament in Gqeberha last year, SANZAAR is delighted that the 2026 U20 Rugby Championship is to be played at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium once again. The tournament provides a vital pathway for up-and-coming talent through exposure to essential international competition and provides development opportunities for the next generation of coaches and officials.”

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer highlighted the significance of the Eastern Cape as a host venue:

“The Eastern Cape has a rich rugby culture and a passionate fan base. We expect good crowds to come to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to see the four teams in action across three double-header match days. The combination of top-notch facilities and enthusiastic support will make this another memorable experience.”