Zimbabwe In Tough World Youth Trophy Group

The southern African nation is in the same group with Canada, Georgia, and Japan in Group A while Group B features Tonga, Chile, the USA and Russia. The format will see the winners of the two pools face each other in the Final on June 30 to claim the title and with it promotion to the IRB Junior World Championship 2013 to be held in France.

Zimbabwe, Africa’s representatives at the junior rugby showcase will kick start their campaign with a game against Japan, the same day that the USA will face pre-tournament favourites Tonga. The Bright Chivandire coached side will follow their opening match with a tie against Georgia before rounding off their campaign with a match against Canada.

The IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy is a second tier international rugby union competition. The event is organised by the sport’s governing body, the International Rugby Board (IRB), and is contested by eight men’s junior national teams, with an under-20 age requirement.

The inaugural tournament was held in April 2008, hosted by Chile, and won by Uruguay. This event replaced the IRB’s former age-grade world championships, the Under 19 and Under 21 championships. The competition is the second tier of the new IRB Junior World Championship.