Rugby Football Union - England face mighty All Blacks in IRB U21 World Championship

England face mighty All Blacks in IRB U21 World Championship

by RFU Press Office


	U21 Coach, Jon Callard photo by www.rugbymatters.net

The draw for the third IRB U21 World Championship to be held in Scotland in June was announced today and will see England face the current World Champions in the first round.

New Zealand, who beat Australia in last year’s final, meet England in their first pool game at Netherdale, Galashiels, on Friday 11^th June.

After impressive performances in this year’s Six Nations Championship, England enter this tournament ranked in fifth place, the highest of the Northern Hemisphere teams. Last year’s finalists New Zealand and Australia take the top two places, while Argentina’s victory over South Africa in the play offs puts them in third, one above the young Springbok team.

The 12 teams taking place in the tournament have been ranked into four pools, with each team playing three pool matches at one of three venues in the Borders.

After New Zealand, England plays Scotland, also in Galashiels, on Tuesday 15^th June, before travelling to Raeburn Place in Edinburgh for their final pool game against Wales on 19^th June.

The top four teams at the end of the pool stages will progress to the semi finals in Glasgow on Wednesday 23^rd June. The remaining teams will all compete in seeding games on the same day in Glasgow or Galashiels.

The final, preceded by the third/fourth play off, will take place on Sunday 27^th June at New Anniesland, Glasgow. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Glasgow, the remaining 10 teams will play their fifth match to determine their finishing position.

On the back of successful a Six Nations and Grand Slam, England U21 coaches Jon Callard and Nigel Redman will be looking forward to the opportunity to prepare their players to play against the best teams in the world at this level.

“Our main reason for being in this tournament is to play the best in the world”, said England U21 Manager, Peter Drewett. “What better way to start than to meet the world champions in our first game.”

“Playing Scotland in Scotland will be another tough test of our ability and our third game against Wales, last year’s U21 Grand Slam champions, will be equally as challenging. Our opposition in the pool stages is of a very high standard which is exactly the level of competition we need if we are to continue to develop our players.”

The 26-man England U21 squad will be named in May, along with a further four players who will make up the training squad.

Children and students will be able to see the entire championship - comprising 30 games - for FREE, while an adult tournament pass will cost just £30. Adult tickets for each double header cost £10. Tickets can be purchased from the Scottish Rugby website (www.scottishrugby.org) or via the credit card hotline (0870 040 1925).

Pool draws (team seeding in brackets)

Pool A - New Zealand (1), Wales (8), Scotland (9)

Pool B - Australia (2), Ireland (7), Italy (10)

Pool C - Argentina (3), France (6), Tonga (11)

Pool D - South Africa (4), England (5), Russia (12)

Match schedule
Please note kick off times are provisional

Day 1 - Friday 11 June
New Anniesland, Glasgow
Ireland v Tonga (kick off 5pm); Australia v France (kick off 7pm)

Raeburn Place, Edinburgh
Italy v Argentina (kick off 5pm); Scotland v South Africa (kick off 7pm)

Netherdale, Galashiels
Wales v Russia (kick off 5pm); New Zealand v England (kick off 7pm)

Day 2 - Tuesday 15 June

Dumbreck, Glasgow

Argentina v Ireland (kick off 5pm); Wales v South Africa (kick off 7pm)

Raeburn Place, Edinburgh

New Zealand v Russia (kick off 5pm); Tonga v Australia (kick off 7pm)

Netherdale, Galashiels

Italy v France (kick off 5pm); Scotland v England (kick off 7pm)

Day 3 - Saturday 19 June

Hughenden, Glasgow

Scotland v Russia (kick off 2.30pm); New Zealand v South Africa (kick off 4.30pm)

Raeburn Place, Edinburgh
Ireland v France (kick off 2.30pm); Wales v England (kick off 4.30pm)

Netherdale, Galashiels
Italy v Tonga (kick off 2.30pm); Australia v Argentina (kick off 4.30pm)

Semi finals day - Wednesday 23 June
Hughenden, Glasgow
Semi finals (kick off 5pm and 7pm)

Raeburn Place, Edinburgh
Teams ranked from fifth to eighth place will play two games at 5pm and 7pm

Netherdale, Galashiels
Teams ranked from ninth to 12^th place will play two games at 5pm and 7pm

Finals day - Sunday 27 June
Hughenden, Glasgow
Third/fourth place play off (kick off 2pm); FINAL (kick off 4pm)

Dumbreck, Glasgow
Seventh/eighth place play off (kick off 10am); fifth/sixth place play off (kick off 12 noon)

New Anniesland, Glasgow

11^th/12^th place play off (kick off 10am); ninth/10^th place play off (kick off 12noon)

For further information please contact

England U21 queries:
Nicki Jupp
U21 press officer, RFU
020 8831 6626
nickijupp@rfu.com

Tournament queries:
Graham Law
SRU
0131 346 5164

Chris Rea
IRB
00 353 1 240 9209

The IRB Under 21 World Championship is being staged in Scotland from 11-27 June as a result of major collaboration between the IRB, Scottish Rugby, EventScotland, Sportscotland, Glasgow City Council, The City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Borders Council.

EventScotland is a joint venture between the Scottish Executive and VisitScotland. It was created to deliver the Major Events Strategy published by the Scottish Executive in November 2002. The strategy is designed to maximise the benefits of existing events, to attract new events, to showcase our assets and to encourage more people to visit Scotland to experience at first-hand major sporting, cultural and arts events being staged here.

EventScotland's mission is to enhance Scotland's international profile and make Scotland one of the world's foremost events destinations, bringing clear benefits for our economy, tourism sector, sport and culture.