Four weeks to go until JWC 2013 kicks off

May 9 • General News, International, Junior Rugby, World Rugby Junior Championship • 2819 Views • Comments Off on Four weeks to go until JWC 2013 kicks off

With less than one month to go until kick off, tickets for the knockout stages of the IRB Junior World Championship 2013 are now on sale.

The Under 20 tournament takes place in the north west of France this year, in Nantes, Vannes and La Roche-sur-Yon from June 5 – 23.

Tickets have been selling rapidly for the pool stages of the tournament which sees some mouth-watering encounters in all three venues.

Pool A will see defending champions South Africa face hosts France, England and the USA in La Roche-sur-Yon.

Tickets are selling very well for the Pool B matches in Vannes, with four-time champions New Zealand set to face rivals Australia, Ireland and Fiji.

Pool C games will be held in Stade Pascal Laporte in Nantes, where Wales, Argentina, Scotland and Samoa will battle it out.

The IRB Junior World Championship has provided the springboard for more than 200 players to graduate to the Test arena, and last week 12 JWC graduates were announced in Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia in June, including captain Sam Warburton.

The premier age-grade tournament broke attendance and broadcasting records in 2012, when 35,000 people attended the final at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town to see hosts South Africa beat New Zealand in a thrilling final that was watched in 165 countries around the world.

“The north west of France is not a traditional heartland for Rugby, but nonetheless, people in the region have really bought into this year’s Junior World Championship, and excitement is really building,” said IRB Tournament Director Philippe Bourdarias.

“With tickets now on sale for the final stages of the competition, fans can plan their journey to Nantes, La Roche-sur-Yon and Vannes, where the final will be held on June 23.”

“Rugby fans around the globe associate the IRB Junior World Championship with open, running Rugby played by the 12 best teams in the world and I have no doubt that the excitement on the field will be matched by the warm welcome and hospitality that will greet the teams and their fans.”

JWC 2013 fixtures