The World Rugby U20 Championship, now also referred to as the World Rugby Junior World Championship, takes place in Georgia from Saturday, 27 June to Saturday, 18 July 2026.

The tournament features 16 teams, with South Africa U20 entering as the defending champions. The Junior Springboks are in Pool A with Wales U20, Georgia U20 and Uruguay U20.

All times below are listed in South African time.

Junior Springboks Pool Fixtures

Saturday, 27 June 2026
South Africa U20 vs Uruguay U20
Kick-off: 18:30 SAST
Venue: Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi

Thursday, 2 July 2026
South Africa U20 vs Georgia U20
Kick-off: 18:30 SAST
Venue: Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi

Tuesday, 7 July 2026
South Africa U20 vs Wales U20
Kick-off: 16:00 SAST
Venue: Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi

Full Pool Fixture Schedule

Saturday, 27 June 2026

Argentina U20 vs USA U20
Kick-off: 11:00 SAST

Italy U20 vs Scotland U20
Kick-off: 11:00 SAST

England U20 vs Ireland U20
Kick-off: 13:30 SAST

New Zealand U20 vs Japan U20
Kick-off: 13:30 SAST

Wales U20 vs Georgia U20
Kick-off: 16:00 SAST

France U20 vs Fiji U20
Kick-off: 16:00 SAST

South Africa U20 vs Uruguay U20
Kick-off: 18:30 SAST

Australia U20 vs Spain U20
Kick-off: 18:30 SAST

Thursday, 2 July 2026

Wales U20 vs Uruguay U20
Kick-off: 11:00 SAST

France U20 vs Spain U20
Kick-off: 11:00 SAST

Argentina U20 vs Ireland U20
Kick-off: 13:30 SAST

Australia U20 vs Fiji U20
Kick-off: 13:30 SAST

England U20 vs USA U20
Kick-off: 16:00 SAST

New Zealand U20 vs Scotland U20
Kick-off: 16:00 SAST

South Africa U20 vs Georgia U20
Kick-off: 18:30 SAST

Italy U20 vs Japan U20
Kick-off: 18:30 SAST

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Ireland U20 vs USA U20
Kick-off: 11:00 SAST

New Zealand U20 vs Italy U20
Kick-off: 11:00 SAST

Argentina U20 vs England U20
Kick-off: 13:30 SAST

Scotland U20 vs Japan U20
Kick-off: 13:30 SAST

South Africa U20 vs Wales U20
Kick-off: 16:00 SAST

France U20 vs Australia U20
Kick-off: 16:00 SAST

Georgia U20 vs Uruguay U20
Kick-off: 18:30 SAST

Spain U20 vs Fiji U20
Kick-off: 18:30 SAST

Knockout and Play-Off Rounds

The pool stages will be followed by the knockout and play-off rounds. The semi-finals are scheduled for Sunday, 12 July and Monday, 13 July, with the final and remaining placing matches taking place on Friday, 17 July and Saturday, 18 July.

Where to Watch in South Africa

The World Rugby U20 Championship fixtures are listed on SuperSport, so South African rugby fans should be able to follow the tournament through SuperSport’s rugby coverage and fixture schedule.

The key Junior Springboks fixtures to note are South Africa U20 vs Uruguay U20 on 27 June, South Africa U20 vs Georgia U20 on 2 July, and South Africa U20 vs Wales U20 on 7 July.

The Springboks will play the Barbarians on Saturday, 20 June 2026, in their opening match of the 2026 season.

The match will take place at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 SAST.

Match details:

Teams: Springboks vs Barbarians
Competition: International rugby friendly
Date: Saturday, 20 June 2026
Kick-off time: 17:00 SAST
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
Where to watch in South Africa: Live on SuperSport

For South African rugby fans, the important time to note is 5:00 PM on Saturday afternoon. The match forms part of a rugby double-header in Gqeberha, with South Africa A playing Zimbabwe earlier in the day.

The Springboks vs Barbarians match will be shown live on SuperSport in South Africa, so DStv and SuperSport viewers should be able to watch the game from kick-off.

South Africa A will play Zimbabwe on Saturday, 20 June 2026, in an international rugby friendly.

The match will take place at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, with kick-off scheduled for 12:00 SAST.

Match details:

Teams: South Africa A vs Zimbabwe
Competition: International rugby friendly
Date: Saturday, 20 June 2026
Kick-off time: 12:00 SAST
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
Where to watch in South Africa: Live on SuperSport

For South African rugby fans, the important time to note is 12:00 midday on Saturday. The match is also part of a double-header, with the Springboks playing the Barbarians later in the day.

The South Africa A vs Zimbabwe match will be shown live on SuperSport in South Africa, so DStv and SuperSport viewers should be able to watch the game from kick-off.

The Vodacom Bulls will play Leinster in the United Rugby Championship Grand Final on Friday, 19 June 2026.

The match will take place at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, with kick-off scheduled for 20:30 SAST.

Match details:

Teams: Leinster vs Vodacom Bulls
Competition: United Rugby Championship Grand Final
Date: Friday, 19 June 2026
Kick-off time: 20:30 SAST
Venue: Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
Where to watch in South Africa: Live on SuperSport

For South African rugby fans, the important time to note is 8:30 PM on Friday night. The Bulls will be looking to beat Leinster away from home and claim the URC title in what should be a massive final.

The match will be shown live on SuperSport in South Africa, so DStv and SuperSport viewers should be able to watch the game from kick-off.

The expected matchup is Dricus du Plessis vs Kamaru Usman, with reports pointing to a middleweight bout on 18 July 2026 in Oklahoma City, USA.

Du Plessis recently hinted that his next fight announcement is close, saying he has already signed his side of the agreement. The delay appears to be around the opponent’s side of the deal, but all signs currently point toward former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

This would be a massive fight for both men. For Dricus, it is a chance to bounce back after losing the UFC middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in August 2025. For Usman, it would be another big-name fight as he looks to make an impact at middleweight.

So, while we are still waiting for the UFC to make it official, the likely next fight is:

Fighter: Dricus du Plessis
Opponent: Kamaru Usman
Date: 18 July 2026
Location: Oklahoma City, USA
Division: Middleweight

South African fans will definitely be watching closely, because this could be a huge comeback fight for Stillknocks.

Saturday, 6 June 2026 – URC Semi-Finals

Friday, 5 June 2026 – HSBC SVNS Bordeaux

Saturday, 6 June 2026 – HSBC SVNS Bordeaux

Sunday, 7 June 2026 – HSBC SVNS Bordeaux

The big local focus will be the Blitzboks in Bordeaux, followed by a massive URC double-header on Saturday afternoon as the Bulls and Stormers chase places in the final.

Because the tournament is being hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada, kick-off times vary quite a bit for South African viewers. Some matches land nicely in the evening, while others will require a very early alarm.

Below is a South African-friendly guide to the opening fixtures, with kick-off times converted to South African Standard Time (SAST).

Where to watch the World Cup in South Africa

South African viewers should have a few options for watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

DStv and SuperSport: SuperSport is expected to show all 104 matches live across DStv packages and DStv Stream, making it the most complete option for fans who want access to every game.

SABC and SABC Plus: SABC is expected to carry selected free-to-air matches, including key fixtures and Bafana Bafana games. SABC Plus should also be useful for streaming selected games without a DStv subscription.

SportyTV: Some listings also include SportyTV as a streaming option in South Africa, so fans may have another digital route for selected or full tournament coverage.

Best fixtures for South African fans in the opening week

For local fans, the big one is obviously Mexico vs South Africa on Thursday, 11 June at 21:00 SAST. It is the opening match of the tournament, and it gives Bafana Bafana a massive stage against one of the host nations.

There are also some excellent neutral fixtures at reasonable South African times. Germany vs Curaçao kicks off at 19:00 SAST, Netherlands vs Japan is at 22:00 SAST, Spain vs Cape Verde is at 18:00 SAST, France vs Senegal is at 21:00 SAST, and Portugal vs DR Congo is at 19:00 SAST.

The late-night and early-morning matches will be tougher, but some could be worth staying up for. Brazil vs Morocco kicks off at midnight, while Argentina vs Algeria is a 03:00 SAST start.

Which opening fixture are you most excited for: Bafana vs Mexico, Brazil vs Morocco, France vs Senegal, or England vs Croatia?

Below is the full Bafana Bafana group-stage schedule converted to South African Standard Time (SAST), along with the venues and where South Africans should be able to watch the matches live.

Where to watch Bafana Bafana in South Africa

South African viewers should have a few options for watching Bafana Bafana’s World Cup matches:

Free-to-air TV: SABC is expected to show Bafana Bafana’s matches, with coverage across SABC 1, SABC 3 and SABC Sport.

Streaming: SABC Plus should be available for viewers who want to stream the matches without a DStv subscription.

Paid TV: SuperSport and DStv are expected to carry the World Cup, including all 104 matches from the tournament.

Radio: SABC radio stations are also expected to provide coverage, which is useful for fans who are travelling, working, or unable to watch live.

Quick thoughts on the fixtures

The Mexico opener is a big one. Not only is it Bafana’s return to the World Cup, but it is also the opening match of the tournament against one of the host nations. A 21:00 kickoff is perfect for South African fans.

The Czechia game is probably the most convenient fixture from a viewing point of view, kicking off at 18:00 SAST. That one could be massive for the group standings.

The final group match against South Korea is the tough one for local fans, with a 03:00 SAST kickoff. Depending on how the first two games go, though, it could be worth setting the alarm.

Which fixture are you most excited for: the Mexico opener, the Czechia evening game, or the early-morning South Korea decider?

Here are the URC fixtures for this weekend, with times listed in South African Standard Time.

The two big local matches will be the main focus for many South African supporters, with the Bulls kicking off the Saturday action at Loftus before the Stormers take on Cardiff in Cape Town. Later in the evening, the Lions will need a huge performance away from home against Leinster.

Fixture times can still be subject to late changes, so it is worth checking closer to kick-off, especially for broadcast details.

The Barbarians match is a non-cap warm-up fixture before the new Nations Championship begins in July. The England, Scotland, and Wales matches will form part of the inaugural Nations Championship competition.

Later in the season, the Springboks will also play a massive four-Test series against New Zealand, including matches in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and the USA.