The 2019 Oceania Rugby U20s Championship is returning to the Gold Coast’s home of Premier rugby, Bond University from this Friday 26 April to 4 May for three exciting rounds.
This year will see the Australian, New Zealand, Japan and Fiji U20s squads go head-to-head to claim the crown of Oceania Champions.
The Oceania Rugby U20 Championship has been held at Bond University and hosted by Rugby Australia since its inception in 2015. Australia and New Zealand have featured in each instalment of the Championship joined by Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Japan over the past five years.
In addition to hosting the Championship itself here at the Bond University Rugby Club, the Australian and Japanese teams will be staying here on campus and training at Bond’s world-class sporting facilities.
Oceania Rugby’s Competitions Manager Wayne Schuster, said “The Oceania Rugby U20s Championship serves to provide our premier U20s teams in the region the best preparation possible ahead of the World Rugby U20s Championship each year.”
“It essentially allows our teams an opportunity to fine tune their preparations and combinations in a robust and high-level competition environment, similar to what they will encounter in pool play at the World U20s Championship in Argentina.”
New Zealand won the 2018 Oceania Rugby U20 Championship and will be defending the championship title for the 5th time in a row in 2019.
Host team for the Championship, the Junior Wallabies, have been preparing well. Head Coach Jason Gilmore said: “It’s always great to be able to play at the Oceania U20s Championship, it brings together some of the best talent in our region.”
“New Zealand are our trans-Tasman rivals, so every opportunity we get to play them isn’t taken lightly,” Gilmore said.
“Fiji is always a world class side to run out against, they play a high-speed, expansive style of rugby, they’re a powerful nation and a side that can attack from all over the park.
“Having Japan back again this year will also provide us with a challenge, not only does it show how rugby is the dominant sport our region, but they also play a different style of game to both the Kiwis and Fijians,” Gilmore added.
2019 Oceania Rugby U20 Championship Schedule (Bond University Rugby Club)
Match Round 1: Friday 26 April 2019
New Zealand v Fiji – Kick off 5pm, AEST
Australia v Japan – Kick off 7pm, AEST
Match Round 2: Tuesday 30 April 2019
New Zealand v Japan – Kick off 5pm, AEST
Australia v Fiji – Kick off 7pm, AEST
Match Round 3: Saturday 4 May 2019
Japan v Fiji – Kick off 5pm, AEST
New Zealand v Australia – Kick off 7pm, AEST
All matches will be played at Bond University, Gold Coast Rugby Fields – and entry for Bond students and staff is free for all three matches upon showing your Bond University ID card.
Admission to the general public is just $5 for Rounds 1 and 3 and free for Round 2, with plenty of free parking available on site at the Bond University Rugby Fields, 14 University Drive, Robina.
Tickets available at the Grounds
Adults $5.00
Children under 12 - FREE
For more information: 2019 Oceania Rugby U20's Championship