| attendance = | top scorer = | most tries = | preceded by = 2025 | succeeded by = 2027 }} The 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship () was the 16th premier age-grade (World Rugby Under-20 Championship) rugby union competition. The tournament will be hosted in Tbilisi and Kutaisi. This was the second edition to be held in Georgia, with first being in 2017. That edition was also hosted in Tbilisi and Kutaisi. This edition was the third to feature 16 teams, with first and second being 2008 (inaugural) and 2009 editions. The 16 participating teams were the 12 teams which participated in the 2025 edition, 12th team of 2024 edition and 3 teams that finished among the top 4 in the 2024 trophy.
Teams The following teams were the 16 participating teams in 2026 edition, with a summary of their previous results also given. +TeamPrevious appearancesMost recent appearanceResult (2025)Best previous result 15 2025 3rd 3rd (2016, 2025) 15 2025 5th 2nd (2010, 2019) 15 2025 6th Champions (2013, 2014, 2016, 2024) 10 2024 — 6th (2011) 15 2025 4th Champions (2018, 2019, 2023) 7 2025 9th 8th (2023) 15 2025 11th 2nd (2016, 2023) 13 2025 7th 7th (2025) 6 2023 — 10th (2015) 15 2025 2nd Champions (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017) 13 2025 10th 5th (2017) 15 2025 Champions Champions (2012, 2025) 2 2025 12th 11th (2024) 2 2013 — 12th (2013) 1 2009 — 16th (2009) 15 2025 8th 2nd (2013)
Law trials Prior to the start of the tournament, it was announced that the 2026 edition of the Junior World Championships would be the first international competition to feature a trial of lowering the tackle height.A new identity for age-grade rugby: Junior World Championship set for Georgia in 2026 Successful trials of a lower tackle height at the sternum in community rugby was introduced to elite rugby for the first time at the tournament.Lower tackle height trial extended to World Rugby U20 Championship 2026
In addition, the tournament also debuted a fully remote Television Match Official hub which was based at Hawk-Eye's headquarters in Basingstoke, England.World Rugby debuts fully remote Television Match Official hub at World Rugby Nations Cup and Junior World Championship
Venues Two main venues were announced on for the competition, with each pool allocated a venue for the group stage; Pools A and C, Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, and Pools B and D, Aia Arena in Kutaisi.
Georgia's main national rugby stadium, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium will also be used for the third-place play-off and the Final.
All three venues were also the venues used when Georgia last hosted the U20 World Rugby Junior World Championship in 2017.
Tbilisi Kutaisi Mikheil Meskhi Stadium Avchala Stadium Aia Arena Capacity: 22,754 Capacity: 3,500 Capacity: 4,860
Match officials The following officials were named for the tournament, with an official panel of twelve referees designated to oversee the game, and four television match officials. Along side the World Rugby appointed officials, local home union referees were used as assistant referees.
Referees Christopher Allison (South Africa) Kevin Bralley (France) Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland) Ben Connor (Wales) Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina) Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland) Reuben Keane (Australia) Saba Makharadze (Georgia) Luke Rogan (United States) George Selwood (England) David Vosalevu (Fiji) Morgan White (Hong Kong China)
Assistant referees Saba Abulashvili (Georgia) Sulkhan Chikhladze (Georgia) Mariam Goguadze (Georgia) Soso Japaridze (Georgia) Giga Mshvenieradze (Georgia) Papuna Tchiqaberidze (Georgia) Shota Tevzadze (Georgia) Shoti Tsagareishvili (Georgia)
Television match officials Paulo Duarte (Portugal) Francisco Gonzalez (Uruguay) Aled Griffiths (Wales) Matt Rodden (Hong Kong China)
Pool stage Pool A
Pool B
Pool C
Pool D
Seeding
Knockout stage The knockout stage will be contested by all 16 teams following the pool stage. Teams will be split into four brackets based on their pool rankings.
The four pool winners will advance to the semi-finals to compete for the championship. The second-placed teams will compete for positions 5–8. The third-placed teams will compete for positions 9–12. The fourth-placed teams will compete for positions 13–16.
Thirteenth-place bracket
Thirteenth-place semi-finals
Fifteenth-place play-off
Thirteenth-place play-off
Ninth-place bracket
Ninth-place semi-finals
Eleventh-place play-off
Ninth-place play-off
Fifth-place bracket
Fifth place semi-finals
Seventh-place play-off
Fifth-place play-off
Championship bracket
Semi-finals
Third-place play-off
Final
References
External links
World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 - Official Website