The Junior Springboks returned to South Africa on Monday to a hero’s welcome following their triumph at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Italy, where they defeated the Junior All Blacks 23–15 in the final. The victory ended a 13-year wait for the SA Under-20 side to reclaim the global title, last won in 2012. Supporters and South African Rugby Union president Mark Alexander greeted the team at their arrival, celebrating a historic achievement.
Led by head coach Kevin Foot, the Junior Boks showcased consistency and dominance throughout the tournament. Mark Alexander praised the team’s performance and unity, highlighting the importance of development at school and provincial level in preparing players for the international stage. He also commended Foot’s leadership and SA Rugby’s High Performance Department for their contribution to the team’s success, while acknowledging the support of sponsors.
The road to the final was marked by emphatic wins in the pool stages against Australia (73–12), England (32–22), and Scotland (73–14), followed by a strong semifinal performance against Argentina (48–24). In the final, South Africa took control early, leading from the third minute with tries from Xola Nyali and Gilermo Mentoe, and 13 points from flyhalf Vusi Moyo sealing the win.
Moyo emerged as the tournament’s top points scorer with 63, while Haashim Pead finished second in the try-scoring charts with six tries—just one behind Georgia’s Mikheili Shioshvili. The Junior Boks’ performance marks a significant milestone for South African rugby and hints at a bright future for the national setup.
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