England u20's end eight-year wait for title

England ended France's dominance of the World Rugby U20 Championship with a 25-13 victory in Friday's final at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.

It was England's first title since 2016 and their fourth overall, with Mark Mapletoft's side producing an accomplished second-half performance to snap Les Bleuets' unbroken run of titles dating back to 2018.

New Zealand also recovered from a slow start to beat Ireland 38-24 in the third place play-off.

Earlier at the same venue, hosts South Africa finished the World Rugby U20 Championship on a positive note, with a confident win over Wales to confirm a seventh-place finish.

The most dramatic match of the day to date though was Spain's extra-time win over Fiji, which has relegated the Islanders to the U20Trophy in 2025. Also at Athlone Sports Stadium, Georgia beat Italy 24-13 to claim ninth place, and Argentina got the better of Australia to finish fifth.

FINAL: ENGLAND 21-13 FRANCE

England lifted the World Rugby U20 Championship trophy for the first time since 2016 after a 21-6 victory over France at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.

France had gone into the match looking to create a piece of history as they sought to match New Zealand’s achievement in winning four consecutive titles, having claimed the silverware on offer in 2018, 2019 and 2023.

That would have been the perfect send-off for head coach Sébastien Calvet who is set to take charge of French club side Agen now that the tournament is over.

However, it was not to be for Les Bleuets who, for all their pace and guile in attack, were up against it for long periods as England held the upper hand physically.

Siya Kolisi was watching on from the stands at the DHL Stadium, and South Africa’s double Rugby World Cup-winning captain would have been impressed with how England played to their strengths.

For all their dominance at scrum-time, a misfiring lineout and mistakes and turnovers in key positions meant a lot of their attacks came to nothing and it was Hugo Reus, the top points scorer for the second tournament running, who scored the first points of the final from the kicking tee in the 11th minute,

Reus then produced an important tackle on U20 Six Nations Player of the Tournament Henry Pollock as the openside burst through the middle of the ruck before losing his grip on the ball in contact.

It was a typical piece of gutsy defending from France, who were desperate not to slip their world crown slip.

England continued to apply the pressure, especially at maul time but to no avail and France thought they’d scored the opening try when Mathis Ferté finished off a fine handling move only for the full-back’s effort to be chalked off for an earlier knock on.

Finally, with 36 minutes gone, England managed to launch a lineout strike move and the forwards and backs combined well, before second-row Joe Bailey powered over from close range, Sean Kerr atoning for two penalty misses in quick succession by converting for a 7-3 lead.

Reus slotted a penalty from wide out on the right on the stroke of half-time on one of the rare occasions that France’s scrum came out on top to make it a one-point game at the break.

England took total control in the second half, closing down the contest with a much more clinical display in the second half.

France’s cause was hindered five minutes after the restart when they lost number eight Mathis Castro Ferreira, a constant nuisance at the breakdown, to the sin-bin.

Kerr kicked the resulting penalty before impact sub Arthur Green rumbled over for England’s second try.

Kerr kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely with back-to-back penalties and other than a chance for winger Xan Mosques, which was pulled back for a forward pass, France struggled to threaten any sort of comeback.

With five minutes to go, Les Bleuets had an attacking lineout but their last chance to set up a grandstand finish came and went when England captain Finn Carnduff came up with a crucial turnover a metre from his own line.

Having been denied earlier in the match, Ferté ensured France at least had the final word when he rounded off a typical free-flowing move with their only try with time up. 

The lowest-scoring final in U20 Championship history may not have been a classic but England did what was needed to get the job done and end their eight-year wait for the title.