Under-18 International Series

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U18 International Series
Tournament details
Host South Africa
Countries
2025
2026

The Under-18 International Series is an annual international rugby union competition held in South Africa and organised by SA Rugby. The tournament features the South Africa Under-18 (SA Schools) team, a South Africa U18 'A' team, and invited international under-18 representative sides from leading rugby nations. [1]

Established in 2012, the series forms part of South Africa’s elite player development pathway and provides international competition for schoolboy players prior to progression to under-20 and senior representative rugby.

The competition was first held in 2012 as a structured international tournament for school-level players, replacing the traditional standalone fixtures previously played by South African Schools teams against touring sides.[2]

The tournament is typically staged annually in August following the conclusion of Craven Week, South Africa’s premier schoolboy rugby tournament, from which the SA U18 and SA U18 'A' squads are selected.[3]

Since its inception, the series has featured visiting teams from countries including England, France, Ireland, Wales, and Georgia.[4]

Format

The Under-18 International Series generally consists of three match rounds played over approximately ten days. Fixtures are commonly hosted at leading school venues in the Western Cape, including Paarl and Stellenberg.

The tournament usually includes:

  • South Africa U18 (SA Schools)
  • South Africa U18 'A'
  • Three to four invited international U18 teams

Matches are typically played as double or triple headers on designated match days. There is no formal knockout stage; standings are determined by match results across the series.

Development role

The competition is regarded as an important step in South Africa’s high-performance pathway. It provides exposure to international opposition and prepares players for selection to the national U20 side that competes in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[5]

Several players who have featured in the Under-18 International Series have progressed to represent South Africa at U20 and senior international level.

Results

See also

References

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