Australia national under-20 rugby union team
The Australia national under-20 rugby union team, nicknamed the Junior Wallabies, is the national under-20 rugby union team that represents Australia. The team has been competing at the annual World Rugby U20 Championship since it began in 2008, replacing the previously held under-19 and under-21 championships. The team also competes at the Oceania U20 Championship as of 2015 and the U20 Rugby Championship since 2024.
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Union | Rugby Australia | |
---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Junior Wallabies | |
Coach(es) | Nathan Grey | |
| ||
First international | ||
![]() ![]() (6 June 2008; Rodney Parade, Newport) | ||
Largest win | ||
![]() ![]() (1 May 2018; Bond Sports Park, Gold Coast) | ||
Largest defeat | ||
![]() ![]() (10 July 2022; SC Stadium, Bokarina) | ||
World Cup | ||
Appearances | 14 (First in 2008) | |
Best result | Runners-up (2010, 2019) |
Australia's highest finish at the World Rugby U20 Championship was second-place in 2010[1][2] and 2019. The team finished third in 2011 by beating France in the third place playoff,[3] and fourth in 2009 after losing to South Africa 32–5 in the third place playoff.[4] The Junior Wallabies also finished second in the first four editions of the Oceania U20 Championship before being crowned champions in 2019 after defeating New Zealand 24–0.[5][6][7]
Team name
editThe Junior Wallabies name was incorporated into the Australian under-20 crest prior to the 2018 season, but the name was also previously applied to several other teams in the history of Australian rugby.[8][9] In the era of amateur rugby from the 1950s onwards, the Junior Wallabies team was selected from uncapped players (with no age restriction) to play against touring Test sides[10][11] or to represent Australia on goodwill tours to Asia and the Pacific.[12][13] Media publications sometimes also used the name Junior Wallabies to refer to age-graded national teams such as the Australian under-19 side,[14] Australian Schoolboys,[15][16] and later the Australian under-20 team.[17][18]
Overall record
editSummary for all competitive test matches up to and including the 2024 season:
- As of 19 July 2024.
Opponent | Pld | W | D | L | W% | PF | PA | Diff. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 37.5% | 162 | 145 | +17 |
Canada | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 167 | 12 | +155 |
England | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 12.5% | 165 | 204 | –39 |
Fiji | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 352 | 125 | +228 |
France | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 42.86% | 178 | 170 | +8 |
Georgia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 35 | 11 | +24 |
Ireland | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 50% | 98 | 84 | +14 |
Italy | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 85.71% | 232 | 91 | +141 |
Japan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 165 | 64 | +101 |
New Zealand | 17 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 23.53% | 348 | 597 | –249 |
Samoa | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 228 | 94 | +134 |
Scotland | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 66.67% | 218 | 104 | +114 |
South Africa | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 50% | 84 | 132 | –48 |
Tonga | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 252 | 25 | +227 |
Wales | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 83.33% | 204 | 133 | +71 |
Total | 91 | 54 | 1 | 36 | 59.34% | 2,788 | 1,991 | +797 |
World Rugby U20 Championship record
editWorld Rugby U20 Championship record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | ||
2008 | Fifth place | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 221 | 68 | ||
2009 | Fourth place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 186 | 74 | ||
2010 | Runners-up | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 239 | 131 | ||
2011 | Third place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 166 | 117 | ||
2012 | Eighth place | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 107 | 94 | ||
2013 | Seventh place | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 114 | 84 | ||
2014 | Fifth place | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 176 | 101 | ||
2015 | Fifth place | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 136 | 110 | ||
2016 | Sixth place | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 120 | 116 | ||
2017 | Sixth place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 135 | 106 | ||
2018 | Fifth place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 178 | 103 | ||
2019 | Runners-up | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 171 | 122 | ||
2023 | Fifth place | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 179 | 157 | ||
2024[a] | Sixth place | 4[a] | 2 | 0 | 2 | 89 | 71 | ||
2025 | To be determined. | ||||||||
Total | Runners-up (2) | 69 | 41 | 1 | 27 | 2,217 | 1,454 |
U20 Rugby Championship record
editU20 Rugby Championship record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | ||
2024 | Fourth place | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 55 | 80 | ||
2025 | To be determined. | ||||||||
Total | Fourth place (1) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 55 | 80 |
Oceania Rugby U20 Championship record
editOceania Rugby U20 Championship record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | ||
2015 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 109 | 87 | ||
2016 | Runners-up | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 54 | ||
2017 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 81 | 87 | ||
2018 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 170 | 55 | ||
2019 | Champions | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 104 | 14 | ||
2022 | Third place | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 91 | 98 | ||
Total | Champions (1) | 17 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 590 | 395 |
Head coaches
edit- 2008: Brian Melrose[21]
- 2009–2012: David Nucifora[22][23]
- 2013–2016: Adrian Thompson[24]
- 2017: Simon Cron[25]
- 2018–2019: Jason Gilmore[26]
- 2020–present: Nathan Grey[27]
Honours
edit- Oceania Junior Championship
-
- Winners (1): 2019
- Runners-up (4): 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ a b In the pool stage of the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship, Australia's scheduled fixture against Ireland was cancelled due to weather conditions, rendering the pitch unplayable and unsafe.[19][20] Each team was awarded two points.[20] Thus Australia did not play the expected three pool stage matches followed-up by two knockout stage matches. Rather, Australia played two pool stage matches and two knockout stage matches, or four in total.
References
edit- ^ "New Zealand crowned JWC 2010 champions". IRB. 21 June 2010. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- ^ "Young Wallabies finish runners up at Junior Worlds". 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "France 17–30 Australia". IRB. 26 June 2011. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ "Australia finishes fourth at IRB Junior World Championship". 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Rugby – Junior Wallabies beat New Zealand to win Oceania under-20s crown". Special Broadcasting Service. 5 May 2019.
- ^ Decent, Tom (5 May 2019). "Junior Wallabies thumping of NZ provides lift game desperately needs". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019.
- ^ "Junior Wallabies deliver good news with Oceania title win over New Zealand". The Australian. News Corp Australia. 6 May 2019.
- ^ "John Weatherstone, 22, left, who will leave Australia on Saturday to tour Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan with the Junior Wallabies". The Canberra Times. 6 March 1972. p. 36, col. 4. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "S. Africa names a strong side". The Canberra Times. 27 July 1971. p. 22, col. 4. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ Australian Rugby Union (27 January 2009). "Biographies - Norman Peter Reilly". Brave and Game. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- ^ "Third visit in five years". The Canberra Times. 8 July 1990. p. 36. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "State Players Nominated". The West Australian. Perth. 25 June 1953. p.18, col. 2. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Union teams selected for Ceylon, Fiji tours". Illawarra Daily Mercury. Wollongong. 9 July 1953. p.12, col. 5. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Roff keen to tackle NZ side". The Canberra Times. 22 July 1994. p. 28. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Junior Wallabies maintain unbeaten record". The Canberra Times. 22 January 1982. p. 18. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Schoolboys still dominant". The Canberra Times. 28 January 1982. p. 26. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ Tucker, Jim (7 May 2016). "Goalkicker Mack Mason proves hero as junior Wallabies become history-makers in beating All Blacks". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Sport: Samoa expecting full-strength Australia in U20 opener". Radio New Zealand. 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Ireland v Australia in World U20 Championship cancelled". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 July 2024.
- ^ a b Williamson, Nathan (9 July 2024). "Australia U20s coach Grey blasts call to cancel Ireland game, ending World Championship semi-final hopes". rugby.com.au. Rugby Australia.
- ^ "Australia announce strong U20s squad". ESPN. 6 May 2008. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Annual Report 2009" (PDF). Australian Rugby Union. pp. 40–41. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ "Trans-Tasman rivals set for final showdown". ESPN. 20 June 2010. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ "Australian U20s coach announced". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 February 2013. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ "Simon Cron, who led Northern Suburbs to Shute Shield win, named Australian U-20s coach". The Daily Telegraph. 9 November 2016. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ "Jason Gilmore says Super Rugby experience with Reds will help him plot junior Wallabies revival". Fox Sports. 10 April 2018. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ Williamson, Nathan (18 June 2021). "Junior Wallabies name squad for Oceania Tournament". rugby.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021.