South Africa’s Junior Springboks secured their spot in a second consecutive U20 World Championship final after defeating England 53-37 in Tbilisi. Meanwhile, track and field competitors Able Mills and Precious Opinion advanced to their respective U20 World Championship finals in Eugene, Oregon.
Junior Springboks Blitz England to Reach Consecutive Final
The Junior Springboks marched into a second consecutive U20 World Championship final in Tbilisi after outgunning England 53-37 in a wildly fluctuating semifinal encounter. Defending the crown they captured in Italy in 2025, Kevin Foote’s squad overcame a shaky first half marked by patchy performances and early defensive lapses.
England seized control early, building a 17-7 lead within the first 30 minutes. The momentum shifted drastically when English flank Seb Kelly received a straight red card for headbutting Junior Bok fullback Luan Giliomee. Trailing 20-12 at halftime, the defending champions exploited the numerical advantage by blitzing England with four tries in a destructive 13-minute spell right after the break.
“We spoke about it during the week and we knew England were going to come hard in that first 40 minutes. We had to contain them and stay in the fight, kept backing ourselves and stayed patient. We weren’t as accurate as we wanted to be in the first half, but we started the second half much better, and we took our opportunities.”
Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, Junior Boks wing
Wing Khuthadzo Rasivhaga led the charge by scoring a hat-trick of tries, while flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed contributed 23 points through a try, six conversions, and two penalties. Despite Giliomee receiving a red card for a reckless aerial challenge with 20 minutes remaining, South Africa maintained an unassailable advantage. Head coach Kevin Foote emphasized that maintaining composure and better ball retention were vital during the interval.
“At halftime, it was really about us looking after the ball a little better and making sure we could keep applying pressure on England consistently.”
Kevin Foote, Junior Boks head coach
Mills and Opinion Shine at Hayward Field Qualifications
Thousands of miles away at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, track and field competitors Able Mills and Precious Opinion punched their tickets to global finals during the Gophersports on Wednesday and Thursday. Mills, who swept the Jamaican under-20 national titles in the shot put and discus in June, carried that momentum onto a smoky Hayward Field.
In the discus qualification group, Mills launched a first-round throw of 57.37m (188-3) to secure seventh overall. She returned to the circle for shot put qualification, coming up clutch in round three with a 15.84m (52-0) mark that placed her ninth among the 12 finalists.
On the men’s side, Opinion delivered a stellar performance in the triple jump qualification. Using a second-round lifetime best of 16.02m (52-7), the Nigerian competitor advanced to his first world final. The leap elevated him from ninth to third all-time outdoors at Minnesota, surpassing former Gopher Floyd Whitaker, who finished fifth at the U20 World Championships in the same event in 2022. Opinion’s mark ranked fourth overall among the 12 finalists, making him one of only three athletes to secure a personal best during the round.
Showdown With France Awaits Junior Boks
South Africa carries a 17-match unbeaten streak into Saturday’s championship match, dating back to a loss against New Zealand in the final round of the 2025 U20 Rugby Championship. However, the path forward requires facing a formidable French side.
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France advanced to the final following a dramatic 26-22 victory over New Zealand, featuring a sensational long-range late try by centre Adrien Drault. Entering the tournament as Six Nations Grand Slam winners, France has claimed three of the past five editions of the U20 World Championships.
Both finalists enter the title match dealing with notable absences. South Africa is missing lock and regular captain Riley Norton, alongside flyhalf Vusi Moyo, who earned a senior Test debut call-up against Wales. France is similarly navigating injuries, notably missing Six Nations player of the tournament Joachim Senga Kouo. While the Junior Boks hold favoritism based on recent form, defensive adjustments will be required following their turbulent semifinal encounter.
