Defending champions South Africa top the seedings in the 2006 International Rugby Board (IRB) Under-21 World Championship to be played in France from June 9 to 25.
Announcing the seedings, tournament pools and match schedule, the IRB said on Monday South Africa will be locking horns with Argentina, Georgia and France during the pool stages of the tournament.
South Africa won the title in Argentina last year, for the second time since inception, in a gruelling tussle with Australia.
”The IRB Under-21 World Championship is widely regarded as the 15-a-side game’s foremost event for talent spotting and development, with a large proportion of the current crop of top international stars having graduated through its ranks,” said the IRB.
The following countries will take part in the tournament (with seedings in brackets): South Africa (1), Australia (2), New Zealand (3), France (4), Argentina (5), Scotland (6), England (7), Wales (8), Ireland (9), Italy (10), Oceana qualifier (11) and Georgia (12). The 11th seed will be decided in March, the berth going to the winner of the Oceania qualifying tournament to be held between Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
The tournament will see the 12 sides play across four pools at six venues: Riom, Issoire, Thiers, Cournon d’Auvergne, Vichy and, for the semifinals and final, Clermont Ferrand’s Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, which is the 14 000-capacity home of Heineken Cup side ASM Clermont Auvergne.
Australia, runners-up in the 2005 tournament in Argentina, open their campaign against Scotland. Third seeds New Zealand start against Italy, while fourth seeds France first take on Ireland.
Commenting on the IRB announcement, SA Rugby CEO Johan Prinsloo said the tournament is always something to look forward to, as it is the breeding ground for future Springboks.
”It’s a tough tournament, whoever you are scheduled to play in the group stages. Many of the boys you play at the under-21 championships become internationals for their countries at senior level. That is how serious we take the tournament, for the sake of the future of rugby in our country — and our coaches and players have responded incredibly well to the challenge.” — Sapa