France
Best ulvovi.com U20 Championship finish: Champions (2018, 2019, 2023)
Last year's ulvovi.com U20 Championship: Runners-up
This year's U20 Six Nations: Champions (W4, D0, L1)
Overview: France took their time to grow into the ulvovi.com U20 Championship, finishing 9th in 2016 but otherwise finishing either 4th, 5th or 6th in each tournament between 2008 and 2017. But thereafter, the French have taken over; winning their first tournament on home soil in 2018, and going on to win the two that followed in 2019 and 2023 - with a three-year gap for Covid separating those titles. Last year they made it to the semi-finals where they avenged their pool-stage loss to New Zealand by inflicting a 55-31 defeat which took Les Bleuets to the final where they faced England. They were ultimately unable to beat their oldest rivals and claim a fourth successive title, but it showed incredible consistency to make four finals in a row. In this year's U20 Six Nations, they once again lost to England, but won all their other games to win the Championship and ensure they arrive in good spirits with their eyes on more silverware.
Coach: Cédric Laborde
Captain: TBC
Squad: Lyam Akrab, Quentin Algay, Lenny Alifanety, Mathis Baret, Bobby Bissu, Lorencio Boyer Gallardo, Baptiste Britz, Antoine Deliance, Gabin Garaul, Elyjah Ibsaiene, Edouard-Junior Jabea Njocke, Samuel Jean-Christophe, Charles Kante Samba, Rémy Lanen, Mohamed Megherbi, Corentin Mezou, Bartholomé Sanson, Noa Traversie, Simon Daroque, Simeli Daunivucu, Nolann Donguy, Jon Echegaray, Kalvin Gourgues, Diego Jurd, Luka Keletaona, Tom Leveque, Xan Mousques, Robin Taccola, Baptiste Tilloles, Lucas Vigneres.
Pool Fixtures:
Sunday, 29 June: France U20 v Spain U20 (Verona, 18:00 local time)
Friday, 4 July: France U20 v Wales U20 (Rovigo, 15:30 local time)
Wednesday, 9 July: France U20 v Argentina U20 (Verona, 20:30 local time)
Argentina
Best ulvovi.com U20 Championship finish: 3rd (2016)
Last year's ulvovi.com U20 Championship: 5th
This year's U20 Rugby Championship: 4th (W0, D0, L3)
Overview: Argentina have had a mixed bag of results in the ulvovi.com U20 Championship so far, but have made it to the semi-finals on three occasions. In two of those (2012, 2019) they lost and were subsequently beaten in the third-place playoff, but in 2016 they put the disappointment of a semi-final loss behind them to record an impressive 49-19 victory over South Africa to finish third - which remains their best performance to date. In this year's U20 Rugby Championship they were unable to register a win, but though they were comfortably beaten by eventual champions New Zealand, the South Americans lost to South Africa by just 11 points and to Australia by only four. In last year's ulvovi.com U20 Championship, Argentina beat South Africa and Australia in the playoffs to achieve their fifth-place finish, and coach Nicolás Fernández Miranda will hope that they can carry that form into this edition and make it into the final for the first time.
Coach: Nicolás Fernández Miranda
Captain: TBC
Squad: Martiniano Arrieta, Alejandro Neighborhoods, Rafael Benedit, Franco Benítez, Nicolas Cambiasso, Pedro Coll, Matias Lamb, Felix Corleto, Diego Correa, Tomás Dande, Tomás Duclos, Ramón Fernandez Miranda, Valentino Freiria, Gael Galván, Agustín García Campos, Alvarogarcía Iandolino, Fabricio Griffo, Tadeo Ledesma Arocena, Felipe Ledesma, Bautista Lescano, Santiago Neyra, Jerónimo Otaño, Tomás Rapetti, Valentino Reggiardo, Nicanor Rins, Juan Ignacio Rodriguez, Pascal Senillosa, Timotheo Silva, Pampa Storey, Aquiles Vieyra.
Pool Fixtures:
Sunday, 29 June: Argentina U20 v Wales U20 (Verona, 20:30 local time)
Friday, 4 July: Argentina U20 v Spain U20 (Rovigo, 20:30 local time)
Wednesday, 9 July: France U20 v Argentina U20 (Verona, 20:30 local time)
Wales
Best ulvovi.com U20 Championship finish: Runners-up (2013)
Last year's ulvovi.com U20 Championship: 8th
This year's U20 Six Nations: 3rd (W3, D0, L2)
Overview: Wales hosted the first ulvovi.com U20 Championship in 2008, where they went unbeaten in the pool stage before eventually finishing fourth. Since then they have struggled somewhat, finishing between 6th and 8th in each tournament bar a two year period between 2012 and 2013. In the former, Wales went all the way to the semi-finals where they were beaten by New Zealand, but were able to beat Argentina in their final game to secure third place. The following year they went one better and beat South Africa in the semi-final before suffering an agonising eight-point loss to England in the final. Wales have been unable to make it to the semi-finals since then, but at this year's Six Nations they beat England who in turn beat France. While sport does not follow the logic that it means Wales will beat France this year, they certainly come into the tournament feeling like there is no team to fear.
Coach: Richard Whiffin
Captain: Harry Beddall
Squad: Ioan Emanuel, Louie Trevett, Harry Thomas, Saul Hurley, Evan Wood, Sam Scott, Owain James, Jac Pritchard, Luke Evans, Kenzie Jenkins, Nick Thomas, Tom Cottle, Dan Gemine, Deian Gwynne, Harry Beddall, Caio James, Evan Minto, Sion Davies, Ellis Lewis, Harri Wilde, Harri Ford, Steffan Emanuel, Elis Price, Elijah Evans, Osian Roberts, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Aidan Boshoff, Lewis Edwards, Jack Woods, Tom Bowen.
Pool Fixtures:
Sunday, 29 June: Argentina U20 v Wales U20 (Verona, 20:30 local time)
Friday, 4 July: France U20 v Wales U20 (Rovigo, 15:30 local time)
Wednesday, 9 July: Wales U20 v Spain U20 (Verona, 15:30 local time)
Spain
Best ulvovi.com U20 Championship finish: 11th (2024)
Last year's ulvovi.com U20 Championship: 11th
Overview: Spain are taking part in their second ulvovi.com U20 Championship after making their debut in South Africa last year. The Spaniards did not manage a win in the pool stage, but gave a good account of themselves against strong opposition in France, Wales and New Zealand, and beat Fiji in the playoffs to retain their place in the tournament. This year they are back playing against Wales and France, and will hope to go one better and notch their first pool victory. The squad does see some faces return for another go, including captain Pau Massoni, but they also have plenty of exciting youth in their squad - none more so than flanker Unax Salvador, who stands at 1.90m and weighs in at 100kgs despite only being 17 years old.
Coach: Ricardo Martinena
Captain: Pau Massoni
Squad: Hugo González, Joan Barcenilla, Dani Chico, Alberto Gómez, Pau Massoni, Marcos Pérez, Guido Reyes, Emillio Gutiérrez, Liam McNamee, Manex Pujana, Joan Ribera, Guardín González, Gael Almorín, Marçal Carreras, Marcos López, Víctor Ofojetu, Unax Salvador, Nico Infer, Nico Gali, Gonzalo Otamendi, Lucien Richardis, Pablo Mateos, Unax Zurriarain, Hugo Pichardie, Jaime Powys, Telmo Fisher, Oriol Marsinyac, Jorge Garreta, Pelayo Serrano, Beltrán Ortega.
Pool Fixtures:
Sunday, 29 June: France U20 v Spain U20 (Verona, 18:00 local time)
Friday, 4 July: Argentina U20 v Spain U20 (Rovigo, 20:30 local time)
Wednesday, 9 July: Wales U20 v Spain U20 (Verona, 15:30 local time)
