The draw for the third IRB U21 World Championship to be held in Scotland in June sees 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 11th June.

After impressive performances in this year’s Six Nations Championship, England enter this tournament ranked fifth, 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 part 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 play Scotland, also in Galashiels, on Tuesday 15th June, before travelling to Raeburn Place in Edinburgh for their final pool game against Wales on 19th June. The top four teams at the end of the pool stages will progress to the semi finals in Glasgow on Wednesday 23rd 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 27th June at New Anniesland, Glasgow. Elsewhere in Glasgow, the remaining 10 teams will play their final match to determine their finishing position.

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 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.”