It was an opening day to savour at the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 in Georgia on Saturday as reigning champions South Africa laid down a stunning marker by running in 15 tries against Uruguay.
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NEW ZEALAND 38-21 JAPAN: New Zealand edge out Japan as lightning forced match to be abandoned
Torrential rain, thunderstorms and lightning in Kutaisi forced this Pool B opener at AIA Arena to be suspended in the 68th minute with referee Luke Rogan taking both sets of players off the field as per safety protocols.
It did not restart and in accordance with the tournament rules the score stood as the final result, giving 2025 runners-up New Zealand a hard-fought 38-21 victory.
The fare served up beforehand was credit to the teams who showed impressive skill despite the wet conditions making handling difficult.
A thrilling first half ended with the scores locked at 21-21 as Japan, returning to the Junior World Championship for the first time since 2023, crossed through Kise Sin, Shinnosuke Uchida and Sota Miura.
New Zealand’s first-half tries came from Dane Johnston, Bradley Tocker and Ollie Guerin before scores from Logan Williams, Caleb Woodley and Mika Muliaina edged them clear in the second half before lightning forced the teams off.
SOUTH AFRICA 104-7 URUGUAY: Champions flex their muscles with stunning statement win over returning Uruguay
Consummately professional, ruthlessly efficient and clinical with pretty much every chance that came their way, South Africa enjoyed the perfect start to their title defence.
It was not only the pace and precision of their attacks, but also the physical dominance of Kevin Foote’s side which saw them score more than 100 points for the third time in Junior World Championship history.
The Junior Springboks were crowned champions for the first time in 13 years in Italy last year and at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, the Junior Springboks side purred ominously, scoring an avalanche of tries to suggest it will take a special team to stop them retaining their title.
Uruguay, back on the Junior World Championship stage for the first time in 17 years, simply had no answer to the speed, skill and physicality of a Junior Springboks side who raced into a 50-0 half-time lead.
Rising star Markus Muller opened the scoring, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga and Jayden Brits grabbed doubles while Jordan Steenkamp and Risima Khosa both completed hat-tricks.
Further scores came from Ethan Adams, Cheswill Jooste, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Gert Kemp and a penalty try before Uruguay claimed a last-minute consolation through replacement tight-head prop Sebastian Dalmao Rivero.
ARGENTINA 78-14 USA: Los Pumitas run amok with 12-try blitz to lay down emphatic marker
Argentina showed they could be serious title contenders with a stunning win at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi against a USA team back on the Junior World Championship stage for the first time in 13 years.
Los Pumitas scored a point a minute during the first half to lead 40-0. Their teamwork was matchless, their conviction unshakeable as they racked up six first-half tries with some mesmerising rugby.
Argentina needed just two minutes to open the scoring through second-row Bautista Benavides before the outstanding Federico Serpa Laporte added a second midway through the first half.
The USA weren't helped by a yellow card for captain Spencer Huntley in the 25th minute and Los Pumitas quickly rammed home their numerical advantage.
Hooker Manuel Cuneo Camargo and captain Tomas Dande touched down before fly-half Serpa ran in a brilliant individual effort and full-back Simon Pfister claimed his first on the stroke of half-time.
Los Pumitas’ class continued to tell after the break as Benjamin Ordiz Yujnovsky went over before Pfister claimed two more tries to complete a hat-trick and Bautista Lescano, Ramon Fernandez and Juan Preumayr also touched down.
The USA got the try their efforts deserved in the final quarter when winger Sialeafuhia Ofa capped an enterprising display by finishing superbly in the left corner and team-mate Dean Holder added a second, with Declan Cadden converting both tries.
AUSTRALIA 90-22 SPAIN: Junior Wallabies quickest out of the blocks to defeat Spain
For such a proud sporting nation, a maiden Junior World Championship title would do just nicely for Australia – and they got their campaign off to an impressive start.
Runners-up in 2010 and 2019, the Junior Wallabies are aiming to go all the way this time around and they will certainly take encouragement from this 14-try display in Kutaisi.
Australia’s previous highest score in the tournament came courtesy of an 86-0 win against Canada in the 2009 pool stage in Japan.
They surpassed that figure here but could not keep out a spirited Spain outfit who ran in four second-half tries of their own to claim a bonus point in defeat.
Australia’s tries came from Luca Cleverley, Ewald Kruger (two), Eli Langi, Angus Grover, Edwin Langi, Chayse Geros, Tom Robinson, Zach Fittler (two), TJ Talaileva (two), Sam Blank and Charlie Hollyman.
Yet Los Leones U20 showed remarkable bravery to keep fighting and they were richly rewarded in the second half with tries from Ivan Farace, Mauro del Campo and Oriol Marsinyac Garcia (two) to take something out of the game.
