Rassie says U20 Rugby Championship will help Junior Boks catch up to northern counterparts

SA Rugby's director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, has lauded Sanzaar's decision to launch an U20 Rugby Championship. 

The southern hemisphere governing body announced on Thursday that the new annual competition will start in 2024, with Gold Coast in Australia to host the first event.

Young stars from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa will face each other once across a three-week period. The top team after the three-round, six-match event will be declared the winner.

"We've been trying for a long time to organise more competitive matches for the Junior Springboks as lack of quality game time is something we've identified as lacking from the U20 programme," Erasmus said in a statement.

"It was clear that the Six Nations teams participating in this year's World Rugby U20 Championship came into the tournament better prepared for the rigours of international rugby.

"Nothing prepares a player better for top-level competition than regular exposure to match situations, and there isn't a better way to do this than to play. We are very excited about this new competition and would like to commend Sanzaar for putting it together."

France and Ireland contested the final of the recently concluded World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa. The French Juniors beat Ireland 50-14 in the final to scoop their third title in the row. 

The Junior Boks, who lost 31-12 to Ireland in the semi-finals, beat England 22-15 in the third-place playoff.

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Junior Springbok head coach Bafana Nhleko also welcomed the news.

"This is exciting and we are looking forward to three tough games against talented opposition. It's a good opportunity for players to