Junior Springboks Finally Claim U20 World Title After 13-Year Wait

The Junior Springboks made history on 19 July 2025 in Rovigo, Italy by defeating long-time rivals New Zealand 23–15 to

win the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship. This is a victory South African rugby fans have waited over a decade to celebrate as the last U20 title was in 2012.

From the opening whistle at Stadio Mario Battaglini, South Africa showed intensity and control. Flanker Xola Nyali burrowed over for the first try in the third minute, giving them an early lead. Vusi Moyo nailed the conversion and later added three penalties, keeping the Junior Boks on the front foot.

New Zealand answered through Jayden Sa, scoring from a clever lineout move. But a controversial first-half red card to Kiwi prop Sika Uamaki Pole hurt their momentum, his yellow was upgraded to a 20-minute red after review. South Africa centre Albertus Bester also received a warning card, but 13-5 at halftime reflected South Africa’s grip on the game. In the second half, Rico Simpson’s penalty for New Zealand narrowed the gap, but it wasn’t enough. South African discipline prevailed. As

time wound down, scrum-half Haashim Pead executed a precision chip that found Gilermo Mentoe, who dotted down in the corner to seal the title. Moyo’s conversion brought the score to 23-8 before Maloni Kunawave added a late consolation try for New Zealand.

Captain Riley Norton, who also featured in South Africa’s U19 cricket team, summed up the atmosphere: “The greatest day of my life… this is why we play the game, for moments like this”. For coach Kevin Foote, the victory is a reminder that South African grit, defence and fundamentals remain world-class at any level.

This win confirms South Africa’s junior side as a new powerhouse on the world stage. With performances like this and talent such as Pead, Norton, Nyali, and Mentoe, supporters can look forward to a bright future for the country’s rugby pipeline.