Triumphant Junior Boks return home after World Championship victory

South Africa’s rugby future shone brightly this week as the Junior Springboks returned home to a heroes’ welcome following their remarkable victory at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy. The team, coached by Kevin Foot, ended a 13-year drought by lifting the coveted trophy after defeating New Zealand 23-15 in the final on Saturday in Rovigo.

Excited supporters gathered on Monday to celebrate the young Boks’ arrival, alongside South African Rugby Union president Mr Mark Alexander, who praised the team for their outstanding performance throughout the tournament.

“This is a very proud day for rugby in South Africa, and I would like to congratulate Kevin and the team on an outstanding performance in the tournament,” said Alexander.

He added that the Junior Boks’ success was the result of dedication across all levels of the sport, from schools to provincial unions. “The group have been welded into a formidable unit over the course of this year, and many of them have the potential to go on to higher honours, I am sure,” he said.

Alexander also credited the decision to appoint Kevin Foot, who brings franchise-level experience as head coach. “That was an important part of the progress this group has shown, and I would like to commend him, his backroom team, and the High Performance Department at SA Rugby for what they have achieved in such a short space of time,” he said.

He further acknowledged the role of sponsors who partnered with the Junior Boks, expressing delight in being able to share in their success.

The Junior Boks had last tasted U20 championship glory in 2012 when they beat the same opposition in Cape Town. This year’s campaign, however, marks their first appearance in a final since 2014, and they made it count with a string of dominant performances.

Their path to the final included emphatic wins over Australia (73-12), England (32-22), and Scotland (73-14) in the pool stages, followed by a convincing 48-24 semi-final win against Argentina.

In the final, South Africa led from the third minute, with early dominance setting the tone. Tries from Xola Nyali and Gilermo Mentoe, coupled with 13 points from flyhalf Vusi Moyo’s boot, sealed the deal. Moyo’s consistent performances saw him finish as the tournament’s top scorer with 63 points, while Haashim Pead crossed the line six times, second only to Georgia’s Mikheili Shioshvili, who scored seven tries.

The win not only showcased the immense talent coming through South African rugby structures but also sent a clear message that the next generation of Springboks is ready to rise to the occasion.

As the team settles back into life at home, the rugby community and fans across the country are already dreaming of future Test stars emerging from this golden generation.