2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship
Rugby union tournament
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The 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship (Georgian: 2026 წლის 20-წლამდელთა მსოფლიო ჩემპიონატი რაგბში, romanized: 2026 ts'lis 20-ts'lamdelta msoplio chemp'ionat'i ragbshi) was the 16th premier age-grade (World Rugby Under-20 Championship) rugby union competition. The tournament will be hosted in Tbilisi and Kutaisi.[1][2] This was the second edition to be held in Georgia, with first being in 2017. That edition was also hosted in Tbilisi and Kutaisi. This edition was the third to feature 16 teams, with first and second being 2008 (inaugural) and 2009 editions. The 16 participating teams were the 12 teams which participated in the 2025 edition, 12th team of 2024 edition and 3 teams that finished among the top 4 in the 2024 trophy.[1][2]
| |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host |  Georgia |
| Venue | 3 |
| Dates | 27 June – 18 July 2026 |
| Teams | 16 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  South Africa (3rd title) |
| Runner-up |  France |
| Third place |  New Zealand |
| Fourth place |  England |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 40 |
| Tries scored | 406 (10.15 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Federico Serpa Laporte (63) |
| Most tries | Simon Pfister (8) |
← 2025 2027 → | |
Teams
The following teams were the 16 participating teams in 2026 edition, with a summary of their previous results also given.
| Team | Previous appearances | Most recent appearance | Result (2025) | Best previous result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina |
15 | 2025 | 3rd | 3rd (2016, 2025) |
 Australia |
15 | 2025 | 5th | 2nd (2010, 2019) |
| England |
15 | 2025 | 6th | Champions (2013, 2014, 2016, 2024) |
 Fiji |
10 | 2024 | — | 6th (2011) |
| France |
15 | 2025 | 4th | Champions (2018, 2019, 2023) |
| Georgia |
7 | 2025 | 9th | 8th (2023) |
 Ireland |
15 | 2025 | 11th | 2nd (2016, 2023) |
 Italy |
13 | 2025 | 7th | 7th (2025) |
 Japan |
6 | 2023 | — | 10th (2015) |
| New Zealand |
15 | 2025 | 2nd | Champions (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017) |
 Scotland |
13 | 2025 | 10th | 5th (2017) |
| South Africa |
15 | 2025 | Champions | Champions (2012, 2025) |
 Spain |
2 | 2025 | 12th | 11th (2024) |
 United States |
2 | 2013 | — | 12th (2013) |
 Uruguay |
1 | 2009 | — | 16th (2009) |
 Wales |
15 | 2025 | 8th | 2nd (2013) |
Law trials
Prior to the start of the tournament, it was announced that the 2026 edition of the Junior World Championships would be the first international competition to feature a trial of lowering the tackle height.[3] Successful trials of a lower tackle height at the sternum in community rugby was introduced to elite rugby for the first time at the tournament.[4]
In addition, the tournament also debuted a fully remote Television Match Official hub which was based at Hawk-Eye's headquarters in Basingstoke, England.[5]
Venues
Two main venues were announced on for the competition, with each pool allocated a venue for the group stage; Pools A and C, Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, and Pools B and D, Aia Arena in Kutaisi.
Georgia's main national rugby stadium, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium will also be used for the third-place play-off and the Final.
All three venues were also the venues used when Georgia last hosted the U20 World Rugby Junior World Championship in 2017.
| Tbilisi | Kutaisi | |
|---|---|---|
| Mikheil Meskhi Stadium | Avchala Stadium | Aia Arena |
| Capacity: 22,754 | Capacity: 3,500 | Capacity: 4,860 |
 |
 | |
Match officials
The following officials were named for the tournament, with an official panel of twelve referees designated to oversee the game, and four television match officials.[6] Along side the World Rugby appointed officials, local home union referees were used as assistant referees.
|
Referees
|
Assistant referees |
Television match officials
|
Pool stage
Pool A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 189 | 45 | +144 | 29 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 15 | Advance to semi-finals |
| 2 | Wales |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 105 | 76 | +29 | 15 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | Advance to fifth-place semi-finals |
| 3 | Georgia |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 85 | 61 | +24 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 7 | Advance to ninth-place semi-finals |
| 4 | Uruguay |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 207 | −197 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to thirteenth-place semi-finals |
Source: World Rugby
| 27 June 2026 18:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| Wales | 25–24 | Georgia (2 BP) |
| Try: James 5' c Cummings 16' m Leggatt-Jones 52' c Con: Leggatt-Jones (2/3) 6', 53' Pen: Leggatt-Jones (2/2) 34', 60' Cards: Bowen  42'  78'Cook 75' | Report Match details | Try: Shioshvili (2) 20' m, 37' c Razmadze 43' m Penalty try 76' Con: Khalvashi (1/3) 38' Cards: Tabatadze 64' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: George Selwood (England) |
| 27 June 2026 20:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) South Africa | 104–7 | Uruguay |
| Try: Muller 7' c Steenkamp (3) 11' c, 36' m, 70' c Penalty try 17' Khosa (3) 24' m, 58' c, 62' c Adams 27' m Rasivhaga (2) 38' c, 40+3' c Jooste 42' c Brits (2) 45' m, 77' c Mnebelele 53' c Kemp 74' c Con: Felix (2/5) 7', 12' Giliomee (3/4) 39', 40+4', 43' Boqwana (6/6) 55', 59', 63', 71', 76', 77' | Report Match details | Try: Rivero 80+2' c Con: Pereira (1/1) 80+3' Cards: Perez 17' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland) |
| 2 July 2026 13:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) Wales | 47–0 | Uruguay |
| Try: Emanuel (2) 13' c, 38' c Thomas 19' m Ridgway (2) 30' c, 50' c Leary 55' c Bowen 70' c Con: Lucas (5/6) 14', 31', 39', 52', 56' Leggatt-Jones (1/1) 71' Cards: Williams 17'James 41' | Report Match details | Cards: Ponte 74' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland) |
| 2 July 2026 20:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) South Africa | 33–5 | Georgia |
| Try: Mnebelele (2) 22' m, 33' c Jooste 53' c Giliomee 59' m Cannon 79' c Con: Giliomee (3/5) 34', 54', 61' Felix (1/1) 80' | Report Match details | Try: Tabatadze 8' m Cards: Ezieshvili Tsiklauri 59' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Morgan White (Hong Kong China) |
| 7 July 2026 18:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) South Africa | 52–33 | Wales (1 BP) |
| Try: Schoeman 12' c Adams 17' c Mnebelele (2) 25' m, 67' c Theron 38' c Khosa 43' c Van Wyk (2) 53' m, 62' c Con: Ahmed (6/8) 13', 18', 38', 44', 62', 68' Cards: Jooste 46' | Report Match details | Try: James 4' c Emanuel 10' c Lewis 49' c Bowen 55' m Edwards 79' c Con: Leggatt-Jones (3/4) 5', 11', 50' Edwards (1/1) 79' Cards: Pritchard 30' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia) |
| 7 July 2026 20:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) Georgia | 56–3 | Uruguay |
| Try: Razmadze 7' c Dzodzuashvili 14' c Tabatadze 17' c Narsia (3) 40' c, 46' c, 80+3' c Nozadze 63' c Akhvlediani 65' c Con: Khalvashi (8/8) 8', 15', 17', 40+1', 47', 64', 66', 80+4' | Report Match details | Pen: Pereira (1/1) 7' Cards: Veglio 80' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina) |
Pool B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 62 | +57 | 18 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 15 | Advance to semi-finals |
| 2 | Scotland |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 107 | 100 | +7 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 11 | Advance to fifth-place semi-finals |
| 3 | Italy |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 88 | 108 | −20 | 13 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 7 | Advance to ninth-place semi-finals |
| 4 | Japan |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 78 | 122 | −44 | 9 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Advance to thirteenth-place semi-finals |
Source: World Rugby
| 27 June 2026 13:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| (2 BP) Italy | 32–38 | Scotland (1 BP) |
| Try: Casarin 32' c Pelli 40+2' c Luisato 46' c Varotto 48' m Con: Braga (3/4) 33', 40+3', 47' Pen: Braga (1/1) 52' Andretti (1/1) 80+1' | Report Match details | Try: Kelly 2' m Dalziel 37' c McHaffie (2) 40' c, 66' c Moncrieff 45' m Kesterton 72' c Con: Dalziel (4/6) 38', 40', 67', 73' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland) |
| 27 June 2026 15:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) New Zealand | 38–21 | Japan |
| Try: Johnston 9' c Tocker 21' c Guerin 27' c Williams 52' m Woodley 62' c Muliaina 67' c Con: Muliaina (4/6) 10', 22', 28', 63' Cards: Muliaina 35' | Report Match details | Try: Sin 16' c Uchida 35' c Miura 39' c Con: Niwa (3/3) 17', 36', 40' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Luke Rogan (United States) |
| 2 July 2026 18:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) New Zealand | 36–26 | Scotland (1 BP) |
| Try: Williams 18' c Norrie (2) 37' c, 41' m Pahulu 48' c Falloon 68' c Con: Muliaina (4/5) 19', 38', 49', 69' Pen: Muliaina (1/1) 23' | Report Match details | Try: Preston 40' c Roberts (2) 45' c, 56' m Kelly 80+4' c Con: Dalziel (3/4) 40+1', 46', 80+5' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina) |
| 2 July 2026 20:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) Italy | 41–25 | Japan |
| Try: Luisato 17' c Falchetto 38' c Casarin 42' c Patricio 58' c Pelli 65' m Varotto 73' m Con: Andretti (4/5) 18', 38', 43', 59' Pen: Andretti (1/1) 28' Cards: Miranda 52'Patricio 61' | Report Match details | Try: Fukuda 34' m Fukada 72' c Niwa 80+1' c Con: Niwa (2/3) 72', 80+2' Pen: Niwa (2/2) 23', 30' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland) |
| 7 July 2026 13:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) New Zealand | 45–15 | Italy |
| Try: Tocker 11' m Lewai 17' c Findlay 26' c Sinton 29' c Etuale 54' m Norrie 56' c Pahulu 63' c Con: Norrie (2/3) 18', 27' Williams (3/4) 30', 57', 64' | Report Match details | Try: Falchetto 3' m Opoku-Gyamfi 23' m Luisato 71' m Cards: Fardin 9' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Kevin Bralley (France) |
| 7 July 2026 15:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) Scotland | 43–32 | Japan (1 BP) |
| Try: Fick 3' c Kelly 14' c Blyth-Lafferty 18' m Roberts 33' c McAughtrie 50' m Bryden 73' m Dalziel 79' c Con: Dalziel (4/7) 4', 15', 34', 79' Cards: Blyth-Lafferty 40+1' | Report Match details | Try: Tsumura 21' c Miura 37' m Uchida 58' c Fukada 65' c Con: Kobayashi (3/4) 22', 58', 66' Pen: Kobayashi (2/2) 30', 76' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: David Vosalevu (Fiji) |
Pool C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 142 | 105 | +37 | 20 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 15 | Advance to semi-finals |
| 2 | Argentina |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 178 | 94 | +84 | 26 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 12 | Advance to fifth-place semi-finals |
| 3 | Ireland |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 140 | 118 | +22 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 8 | Advance to ninth-place semi-finals |
| 4 | United States |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 76 | 219 | −143 | 11 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Advance to thirteenth-place semi-finals |
Source: World Rugby
| 27 June 2026 13:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) Argentina | 78–14 | United States |
| Try: Benavides 3' c Coll 23' c Cuneo Camargo 29' c Dande 35' c Serpa Laporte 38' c Pfister (3) 40' m, 44' c, 63' c Ordiz Yujnovsky 42' c Lescano 49' m Fernandez 75' m Preumayr 78' c Con: Serpa Laporte (7/9) 4', 24', 30', 36', 39', 43', 45' Giannantonio (2/3) 63', 79' Cards: Cambiasso 57' | Report Match details | Try: Ofa 65' c Holder 70' c Con: Cadden (2/2) 66', 71' Cards: Huntley 26' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Saba Makharadze (Georgia) |
| 27 June 2026 15:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) England | 34–27 | Ireland (2 BP) |
| Try: Staples 15' c Pater 19' c Penalty try 23' Knight 46' m Con: Shields (3/4) 15', 20', 46' Pen: Shields (2/3) 38', 73' Cards: Kelly 60' | Report Match details | Try: Ryan (3) 2' c, 7' m, 43' m Byrne 67' m Deegan 69' m Con: O'Shea (1/3) 3' Cards: McNeice 14'Blaney 23' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Ben Connor (Wales) |
| 2 July 2026 15:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) Argentina | 62–40 | Ireland (1 BP) |
| Try: Avaca (2) 3' c, 53' c Serpa Laporte 9' c Pfister (2) 34' c, 46' c Dande 36' c Lescano 74' c Giannantonio 76' c Con: Serpa Laporte (8/8) 4', 10', 35', 37', 47', 54', 75', 77' Pen: Serpa Laporte 32', 72' Cards: Yujnovsky 48' | Report Match details | Try: Handley 20' c O'Shea (2) 49' c, 67' c Deegan 55' McClean 60' c Neill 80' m Con: O'Shea (5/6) 21', 49', 55', 60', 68' Cards: Ryan 31' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia) |
| 2 July 2026 18:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) England | 68–40 | United States (1 BP) |
| Try: Lewis 2' c Cunnison 11' c Scola 20' c Gorleku (2) 27' c, 30' c Pearson 35' c Lilley 46' c Weimann 64' c Treacey 73' c Offiah 79' m Con: Keylock (9/10) 3', 12', 21', 28', 31', 36', 47', 65', 74' | Report Match details | Try: Darbishire 14' c Bold 34' c Mitchell (3) 51' c, 61' m, 69' c Holder 55' c Con: Holder (5/6) 15', 35', 52', 56', 70' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: David Vosalevu (Fiji) |
| 7 July 2026 13:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) Ireland | 73–22 | United States |
| Try: Barrett 2' c O'Shea (3) 4' c, 28' c, 31' c Walsh (3) 17' m, 34' c, 53' c Carney 37' m Cooper 48' c Ryan 61' c Deegan 76' c Con: Green (9/11) 3', 5', 29', 32', 35', 49', 53', 62', 76' Cards: Molony 42' 63' | Report Match details | Try: Love 44' m Sarkees 59' c Keesler-Venables 74' c Con: Firebrace (2/3) 60', 75' Pen: Cadden (1/1) 15' Cards: Williams 55' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: George Selwood (England) |
| 7 July 2026 15:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| (2 BP) Argentina | 38–40 | England (1 BP) |
| Try: Dande 8' c Cuneo Camargo 27' m Lescano (2) 46' m, 72' c Pfister (2) 52' c, 78' c Con: Serpa Laporte (2/4) 9', 53' Giannantonio (2/2) 72', 79' Cards: Ordiz Yujnovsky 16'Benavides 50' | Report Match details | Try: Knight 13' c Pater (2) 20' c, 50' m Staples 36' c Ainsworth-Cave (2) 39' c, 42' c Con: Shields (5/6) 14', 21', 36', 40', 42' Cards: Williams 69'Knight 71' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Christopher Allison (South Africa) |
Pool D
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 76 | +60 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 15 | Advance to semi-finals |
| 2 | Australia |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 172 | 73 | +99 | 27 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 12 | Advance to fifth-place semi-finals |
| 3 | Fiji |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 61 | 124 | −63 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 5 | Advance to ninth-place semi-finals |
| 4 | Spain |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 80 | 176 | −96 | 12 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Advance to thirteenth-place semi-finals |
Source: World Rugby
| 27 June 2026 18:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) France | 45–15 | Fiji |
| Try: Frisach 11' c Garault (3) 18' c, 35' m, 40' c Martin 28' c Andjisseramatchi 45' m Penalty try 55' Con: Jurd (4/6) 12', 19', 29', 40+1' Cards: Portat 73' | Report Match details | Try: Roseruvakula 61' m Tuvasu Tabuakoto 73' c Con: Ledua (1/2) 74' Pen: Ratu (1/1) 58' Cards: Turagacoke 38'Ratu 44'Naevo 55' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Morgan White (Hong Kong China) |
| 27 June 2026 20:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) Australia | 90–22 | Spain (1 BP) |
| Try: Cleverley 4' c Kruger (2) 9' c, 16' c El. Langi 21' c Grover 27' c Ed. Langi 31' c Geros 39' c Robinson 44' c Fittler (2) 53' c, 80' m Talaileva (2) 62' m, 65' m Blank 68' c Hollyman 75' m Con: Mackay (10/14) 5', 9', 17', 22', 27', 32', 40', 45', 54', 69' Cards: Leota 49' | Report Match details | Try: Farace 50' m Del Campo 56' m Garcia (2) 72' c, 80+3' m Con: Antem (1/2) 73' Cards: Dela Fuente 5'Pujana Lendinez 40+1' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Kevin Bralley (France) |
| 2 July 2026 13:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) France | 57–32 | Spain (1 BP) |
| Try: Avogadro (2) 2' m, 26' m Frisach (2) 40' c, 74' c Baret (2) 46' c, 60' c Audebert (2) 48' c, 67' m Rates 76' c Con: Keletaona (3/4) 40+1', 47', 49' Jurd (3/4) 61', 75', 77' Cards: Basse 29'Langlois 33' | Report Match details | Try: Marsinyac Garcia (2) 5' m, 80+2' c Ibeoba 23' c Narvarte 36' m Salvador Asama 62' m Con: Hafoka Toca (2/5) 24', 80+3' Pen: Hafoka Toca (1/1) 19' Cards: Artigas 46' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Christopher Allison (South Africa) |
| 2 July 2026 15:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) Australia | 53–17 | Fiji |
| Try: Brial (2) 5' c, 36' m Farr-Jones (2) 7' m, 59' m Kruger 15' m Pritchard 23' c Blank 31' c Le Maitre 64' m Grover 76' c Con: Mackay (3/6) 6', 24', 32' Fowler (1/3) 77' Cards: Job 19'Ed. Langi 61'Bird 71' | Report Match details | Try: Nauvasi 51' c Roseruvakula 62' m Con: Ledua (2/2) 52', 63' Pen: Ledua 14' Cards: Qabale 27'Serupepeli Ratulomai 36'Tuvasu Tabuakoto 66' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Luke Rogan (United States) |
| 7 July 2026 18:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) France | 34–29 | Australia (2 BP) |
| Try: Andjisseramatchi (2) 18' c, 26' c Rates 23' m Garault 43' m Tilloles 56' c Con: Keletaona (2/4) 18', 26' Tilloles (1/1) 57' Pen: Keletaona (1/1) 35' | Report Match details | Try: Pritchard 3' m Cleverley 29' c Charlie 46' c Ed. Langi 61' c Con: Mackay (3/4) 29', 47', 61' Pen: Bird (1/1) 77' Cards: Brial 17'Ross 52' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Ben Connor (Wales) |
| 7 July 2026 20:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| (1 BP) Spain | 26–29 | Fiji (1 BP) |
| Try: Serrano 9' m Penalty try 15' Farace 52' m Pen: Antem (2/2) 26', 34' Hafoka Toca (1/1) 72' Cards: Garcia 55' | Report Match details | Try: Peters 22' c Koroinawai (2) 30' m, 35' m Dasalusalu 56' c Taka 66' m Con: Ledua (1/3) 23' Ratu (1/2) 57' Cards: Dasalusalu 15' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Saba Makharadze (Georgia) |
Seeding
| Pos | Team | P | W | Diff. | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa (A) |
3 | 3 | +144 | 15 |
| 2 | France (D) |
3 | 3 | +60 | 15 |
| 3 | New Zealand (B) |
3 | 3 | +57 | 15 |
| 4 | England (C) |
3 | 3 | +37 | 15 |
| 5 | Australia (D) |
3 | 2 | +99 | 12 |
| 6 | Argentina (C) |
3 | 2 | +84 | 12 |
| 7 | Scotland (B) |
3 | 2 | +7 | 11 |
| 8 | Wales (A) |
3 | 2 | +29 | 10 |
| 9 | Ireland (C) |
3 | 1 | +22 | 8 |
| 10 | Georgia (A) |
3 | 1 | +24 | 7 |
| 11 | Italy (B) |
3 | 1 | –13 | 7 |
| 12 | Fiji (D) |
3 | 1 | –63 | 5 |
| 13 | Spain (D) |
3 | 0 | –96 | 3 |
| 14 | Japan (B) |
3 | 0 | –44 | 1 |
| 15 | United States (C) |
3 | 0 | –143 | 1 |
| 16 | Uruguay (A) |
3 | 0 | –197 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 9 July 2025. Source: World Rugby
Knockout stage
The knockout stage will be contested by all 16 teams following the pool stage. Teams will be split into four brackets based on their pool rankings.
- The four pool winners will advance to the semi-finals to compete for the championship.
- The second-placed teams will compete for positions 5–8.
- The third-placed teams will compete for positions 9–12.
- The fourth-placed teams will compete for positions 13–16.
Thirteenth-place bracket
| Semi-finals | Thirteenth-place final | |||||
| 12 July – Kutaisi | ||||||
| Japan | 71 | |||||
| 17 July – Kutaisi | ||||||
| United States | 21 | |||||
| Japan | 34 | |||||
| 12 July – Kutaisi | ||||||
| Spain | 26 | |||||
| Spain | 57 | |||||
| Uruguay | 6 | |||||
| Third place | ||||||
| 17 July – Kutaisi | ||||||
| United States | 39 | |||||
| Uruguay | 15 | |||||
Thirteenth-place semi-finals
| 12 July 2026 18:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| Japan | 71–21 | United States |
| Try: Iwakura (3) 4' c, 13' c, 50' c Fukada 25' c Uchida (2) 33' c, 46' m Suda 53' c Miura (3) 57' m, 67' c, 74' m Motoyama 62' c Con: Niwa (8/11) 4', 14', 26', 34', 51', 54', 62', 68' | Report Match details | Try: Finicle 7' c Mitchell 38' c Darbishire 42' c Con: Cadden (3/3) 7', 39', 43' Cards: Trower 23'Huntley 66'Booth 72' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Christopher Allison (South Africa) |
| 12 July 2026 20:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| Spain | 57–6 | Uruguay |
| Try: Salvador Asama 5' c Chico Ayo 18' c Farace 28' m Garcia (2) 44' c, 58' m Del Campo 63' c Carreras Cuesta (2) 67' m, 78' c Enciso 71' c Con: Hafoka Toca (6/9) 5', 19', 45', 64', 72', 79' Cards: Dela Fuente 70' | Report Match details | Pen: Pereira (2/2) 2', 24' Cards: Baccino 16'Veglio 62' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Morgan White (Hong Kong China) |
Fifteenth-place play-off
| 17 July 2026 18:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| United States | 39–15 | Uruguay |
| Try: Stewart 40' c Matelau 42' c Cluff 54' c Kirk 74' c Hill 78' m Con: Cadden (3/3) 40+1', 42', 55' Firebrace (1/2) 75' Pen: Cadden (1/2) 46' Firebrace 67' | Report Match details | Try: Pérez (3) 23' m, 29' m, 33' m |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: David Vosalevu (Fiji) |
Thirteenth-place play-off
| 17 July 2026 20:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| Japan | 34–26 | Spain |
| Try: Fukada 21' m Iwakura 30' c Uchida 46' m Otabe 51' c Hyakutake 71' m Suda 78' m Con: Niwa (2/6) 31', 52' Cards: Miura 36'Kumagae 55' | Report Match details | Try: Carreras Cuesta (2) 5' m, 36' c Farace 61' m Con: Hafoka Toca (1/3) 37' Pen: Hafoka Toca (3) 19', 25', 74' Cards: Farace 21'Fisher Obieta 23'Martinez Cattaneo 49'Serrano 65'Del Campo 70' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Saba Makharadze (Georgia) |
Ninth-place bracket
| Semi-finals | Ninth-place final | |||||
| 13 July – Kutaisi | ||||||
| Georgia | 19 | |||||
| 18 July – Kutaisi | ||||||
| Italy | 43 | |||||
| Italy | 26 | |||||
| 13 July – Kutaisi | ||||||
| Ireland | 34 | |||||
| Ireland | 24 | |||||
| Fiji | 19 | |||||
| Third place | ||||||
| 18 July – Kutaisi | ||||||
| Georgia | 10 | |||||
| Fiji | 30 | |||||
Ninth-place semi-finals
| 13 July 2026 18:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| Georgia | 19–43 | Italy |
| Try: Dzodzuashvili 13' c Razmadze 36' c Agniashvili 63' m Con: Khalvashi (2/3) 14', 37' Cards: Devdariani 79' | Report Match details | Try: Wilson (2) 2' m, 25' c Opoku-Gyamfi 5' m Celi (2) 9' c, 22' c De Novellis 15' c Con: Andretti (5/6) 7', 10', 16', 23', 26' Pen: Andretti (1/1) 40+1' Cards: Opoku-Gyamfi 46'Wilson 63' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Luke Rogan (United States) |
| 13 July 2026 20:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| Ireland | 24–19 | Fiji |
| Try: Ryan 12' c O'Connell 22' c O'Leary 43' c Con: Green (3/3) 12', 33', 44' Pen: Green (1/1) 79' Cards: Finn 38'Waters 80+1' | Report Match details | Try: Ratu 14' c Taka 35' m Rokosuka 73' c Con: Ledua (1/2) 15' Lesimaikimatuku (1/1) 74' Cards: Roseruvakula 58'Tuvalu 68' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina) |
Eleventh-place play-off
| 18 July 2026 18:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| Georgia | 10–30 | Fiji |
| Try: Shioshvili 54' m Saldadze 70' m | Report Match details | Try: Satala 1' m Koroi 25' c Koroinawai 38' m Vagadai 74' c Con: Maurice (1/3) 26' Ledua (1/1) 75' Pen: Ledua (2/3) 63', 65' Cards: Tuvalu 49'Peters 53'Nauvasi 67' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland) |
Ninth-place play-off
| 18 July 2026 20:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| Italy | 26–34 | Ireland |
| Try: Opoku-Gyamfi 9' c Meroi 17' c De Novellis 65' c Varotto 80' m Con: Andretti (3/3) 10', 18', 65' Cards: Wilson 57' | Report Match details | Try: Neill 6' c Maguire 16' c Molony 20' m O'Shea 70' m Walsh 77' c Con: Green (3/5) 7', 16', 77' Pen: Green (1/1) 37' |
| Aia Arena, Kutaisi Referee: Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland) |
Fifth-place bracket
| Semi-finals | Fifth-place final | |||||
| 12 July – Tbilisi | ||||||
| Argentina | 26 | |||||
| 17 July – Tbilisi | ||||||
| Scotland | 44 | |||||
| Scotland | 28 | |||||
| 12 July – Tbilisi | ||||||
| Wales | 21 | |||||
| Australia | 36 | |||||
| Wales | 38 | |||||
| Third place | ||||||
| 17 July – Tbilisi | ||||||
| Argentina | 29 | |||||
| Australia | 52 | |||||
Fifth place semi-finals
| 12 July 2026 18:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| Argentina | 26–44 | Scotland |
| Try: Penalty try 27' Lescano 51' m Coll 60' c Fernandez 75' c Con: Serpa Laporte (2/3) 61', 76' Cards: Ledesma Arocena 22'Cambiasso 36'Coll 69' | Report Match details | Try: Blyth-Lafferty 8' m Roberts (2) 23' c, 63' m Moncrieff 32' m MacArthur 46' m McKenna 66' c Preston 70' m Con: Dalziel (3/7) 9', 24', 67' Pen: Dalziel (1/1) 80+1' Cards: Halkon 27' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Ben Connor (Wales) |
| 12 July 2026 20:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| Australia | 36–38 | Wales |
| Try: Farr-Jones (2) 20' m, 31' m Blank 24' c Whitfeld 55' m Ed. Langi 67' c Greenfell 77' c Con: Mackay (1/4) 25' Bird (2/2) 68', 78' Cards: Brial 72' | Report Match details | Try: Cummings (2) 14' c, 41' c Lewis 18' c Gwynne 48' c Penalty try 73' Con: Leggatt-Jones (4/4) 15', 19', 42', 49' Pen: Leggatt-Jones (1/1) 45' Cards: Leggatt-Jones 20'Evans 63' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland) |
Seventh-place play-off
| 17 July 2026 18:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| Argentina | 29–52 | Australia |
| Try: Pfister 12' c Salinas Mallea 47' c Cambiasso 56' c Canedo 77' m Con: Serpa Laporte (3/3) 13', 48', 57' Pen: Serpa Laporte (1/2) 16' | Report Match details | Try: Greenfell (2) 2' c, 17' m Fittler 27' c Cleverley 33' c Farr-Jones (2) 37' c, 51' m Brial 41' c Swerling-Finaipepe 61' c Con: Bird (6/8) 3', 28', 34', 38', 42', 62' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Kevin Bralley (France) |
Fifth-place play-off
| 17 July 2026 20:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| Scotland | 28–21 | Wales |
| Try: Blyth-Lafferty 33' c Kesterton 35' c Roberts 47' c Kelly 64' c Con: Dalziel (4/4) 33', 36', 48', 65' Cards: Fick 74'Caven 77' | Report Match details | Try: Evans 10' c Pritchard 28' c Edwards 59' c Con: Leggatt-Jones (2/2) 11', 29' Lucas (1/1) 60' Cards: Evans 45'Bowen 62' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina) |
Championship bracket
| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| 13 July – Tbilisi | ||||||
| France | 26 | |||||
| 18 July – Tbilisi | ||||||
| New Zealand | 22 | |||||
| France | 5 | |||||
| 13 July – Tbilisi | ||||||
| South Africa | 16 | |||||
| South Africa | 53 | |||||
| England | 37 | |||||
| Third place | ||||||
| 18 July – Tbilisi | ||||||
| New Zealand | 41 | |||||
| England | 26 | |||||
Semi-finals
| 13 July 2026 18:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| France | 26–22 | New Zealand |
| Try: Garault (2) 20' c, 33' c Masi 61' m Drault 76' c Con: Keletaona (2) 21', 34' Jurd (1/1) 77' | Match details | Try: Webber 7' c Stuart 27' m McLeod 58' c Con: Norrie (2/3) 8', 59' Pen: Muliaina (1/1) 72' Cards: Fale 21'Woodley 61' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: George Selwood (England) |
| 13 July 2026 20:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| South Africa | 53–37 | England |
| Try: Ahmed 12' c Rasivhaga (3) 34' m, 42' c, 53' c Maake (2) 48' c, 50' c Cannon 59' c Con: Ahmed (6/7) 13', 43', 48', 51', 54', 60' Pen: Ahmed (2/3) 62', 69' Cards: Giliomee 64' | Match details | Try: Streeter 4' c Shields (2) 30' c, 79' m Weimann 55' m Williams 65' c Con: Shields (3/5) 5', 31', 66' Pen: Shields (2/2) 18', 40' Cards: Kelly 32' |
| Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Kevin Bralley (France) |
Third-place play-off
| 18 July 2026 18:00 GET (UTC+04) |
| New Zealand | 41–26 | England |
| Try: Frost (2) 5' m, 27' m Hutchings 45' m Pahulu 51' c McLeod (2) 64' m, 66' c Fale 78' c Con: Williams (3/5) 52', 67', 79' Cards: McLeod 22' | Report Match details | Try: Winters 2' m Staples (2) 29' c, 49' c Offiah 72' m Con: Shields (1/1) 2' Keylock (2/3) 30', 49' Cards: Lilley 14' |
| Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Ben Connor (Wales) |
Final
| 18 July 2026 20:30 GET (UTC+04) |
| South Africa | 16–5 | France |
| Try: Muller 67' c Con: Ahmed (1/1) 68' c Pen: Ahmed (3/3) 9’, 40’, 79' | Report Match details | Try: Audebert 45' m |
| Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia) |
