<
>

Junior Boks to kick off U20 Champs

Damian Willemse celebrates after scoring a try for the Junior Springboks Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

The Junior Springboks will play Georgia in the opening match of the World Rugby U20 Championship in the French city of Perpignan on May 30, World Rugby announced on Wednesday.

Chean Roux's team has been drawn in Pool C - which also includes Ireland and hosts France - and will play their remaining pool matches on June 3 and 7 in Narbonne.

Defending champions New Zealand have been drawn in Pool A with Australia, Wales and Japan, while 2017 runners-up England take on Scotland, Italy and Argentina in Pool B.

The two semifinals will be played on June 12 in Narbonne and Perpignan, respectively, with the final in Béziers on June 12.

"The announcement of the match venues as we prepare to kick off our preparations is great news and it has boosted our excitement for the tournament," Roux told the media on Wednesday.

The South Africans start their preparations with a four-day camp in Stellenbosch next week, which will feature an extended group of 41 players.

South Africa's fixtures (kick-off times CAT; TBC by World Rugby)

SA v. Georgia - May 30 (18:30)
SA v. Ireland - June 3 (16:30)
SA vs. France - June 7 (21:00)