Manchester has been selected to play host to World U20 Championship next June
Tuesday 16 June 2015 13:13, UK
The 2016 World U20 Championship will be held in Manchester, World Rugby has announced.
The tournament will be hosted by the RFU and will take place at the AJ Bell Stadium, home of Sale Sharks, and Manchester City Academy Stadium.
This year’s edition of the U20 Championship (formerly the Junior World Championships) is currently taking place in Italy and England will defend their title against four-time former winners New Zealand in Cremona on Saturday.
Next year’s tournament will again take place in June, with dates and kick-off times to be announced at a later date.
World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "The U20 Championship in England next year will be another excellent opportunity for the future stars of world rugby to showcase their skills on the world stage, following what's shaping up to be a record-breaking Rugby World Cup.
"Manchester will provide an excellent base for the world's top U20 teams, and it's a great opportunity to bring a world-class rugby event to the city and grow the game even further in the region.
"With so many graduates of the U20 Championship now excelling in the international test arena, this tournament, coupled with the Rugby World Cup, will leave a great legacy for others to build on in the years to come.”
The Rugby World Cup takes place in England this autumn and RFU Chief Executive Ian Ritchie said: “We are honoured to be hosting the World Rugby U20 Championship in England next year.
“We have a tremendous opportunity to grow the game in this country after October’s tournament, and create a legacy for generations to come.
“The appointment of the Championship to the RFU is another significant step forward in helping us achieve that goal, ensuring that rugby is accessible in all areas of the country.”
