The World Under 20 Championship kicks off in Northern Italy on Sunday, with a slew of top drawer fixtures taking place in Verona, Viadana, Calvisano and Rovigo. On show will be the next-gen of global rugby talent and fans will be able to watch it for free on RugbyPass TV, but for the uninitiated, here are nine players who could be starring not only in the tournament, which culminates on July 19, but far beyond.
Siphosethu Mnebelele (South Africa)
A remarkable young man, Mnebelele’s journey to Junior Boks fulcrum was laden with tragedy and hardship. He lost both parents when he was 12 and was supported by his redoubtable aunt and wider community, as well as the TAG Rugby Foundation, earning a place at the famous King Edward VII School. An explosive hooker with astonishing power, Mnebelele captained South Africa at U18 level and his Lions side at Craven Week. He marked an exceptional display against New Zealand in this year’s Rugby Championship with a try, lacing his performance with punishing charges and flourishes of skill. Coach Kevin Foote describes him as “special”. Everything we’ve seen of Mnebelele so far suggests that’s an entirely accurate summation. South African skipper Riley Norton is another outstanding prospect, having been head boy at the iconic Paul Roos school and even captained his country in age-grade cricket.
Jon Echegaray (France)
Such is Echegaray’s standing at the Stade Chaban Delmas that he will join France’s U20 side late, after being part of Bordeaux-Begles’ Top 14 battle for the Bouclier de Brennus this weekend. After being a regular try-scorer in the recent U20 Six Nations, in March he went viral for scoring the fastest ever try in the French domestic league, with a 10-second dot down against Perpignan, after picking up a stray ball from Matthieu Jalibert’s kick-off. The following month, he was a try-scorer against Munster in the Champions Cup, meaning he is primed to be one of the stars of the U20 World Championship. Echegaray can play anywhere in the back three but is most effective as a full-back in broken-field play, where his balance, ability to step off both feet and raw pace can eviscerate defences. A mention should also go to Montpellier hooker Lyam Akrab, who scored a record seven tries for France in the U20 Six Nations in a breakthrough season.
Tomas Rappetti (Argentina)
Toulouse, it will surprise no one, have a keen eye for talent. Crammed full of superstars, they have identified, Rappetti, a 6ft 3in, 125kg tighthead, as having the potential to lock down their scrum for years to come. He will join Puma stars Santiago Chocobares and Juan Cruz Mallia, and young lock Efrain Elias in a gifted Puma enclave. It’s not quite leap into the unknown, however, for Rappetti, because his father Juan Jose, played in Europe, packing down for Beziers in the South of France and L’Aquila in Italy, in a six-year stint overseas. The prop has cut his teeth at Los Pampas, the Super Rugby Americas club, but such is his burgeoning reputation that he was even being considered for a place in the full Argentina squad to face the Lions but instead preferred to stay with the U20s squad. Rappetti has enviable power at the set-piece, while his ball-carrying in the tight is prodigious.
Kepu Tuipulotu (England)
Brought up in Gwent, with a lilting South Walian accent, similar to a certain Mako Vunipola, Tuipulotu, unlike his big sister Sisilia, was captured by the English system, after being schooled at Harrow and spending two seasons with London Irish. Their folding meant he moved closer to home as he signed for Bath’s Academy. With father Sione a full Tongan international who appeared at two World Cups, Kepu is low-slung and immensely powerful. A known admirer of Dan Sheehan and Malcolm Marx, he is renowned for making powerful busts through contact and silky offloading skills. The hooker showed off his full skillset in the recent U20 Six Nations, with a 60m carry finished off by a delicate grubber kick to set Tye Raymont for a try against Scotland. With a metronomic throwing arm, an 18st frame to carry heft in the scrum, and a handy turn of pace, The Rec could soon be idolising him in the same way they revere Tom Dunn. Out in the wide channels, also keep an eye out for Jack Bracken, a silky runner who could end up in Saracens’ back-three sooner than later.
Aden Ekanayake (Australia)
Among a slew of eye-catching names in the Australia squad – bereft, though it is, of Reds starlet Dre Pakeho, who has a calf injury – Ekanayake should be a box-office competitor. A blistering year on the HSBC SVNS earned him a nomination for rookie of the season, with Australia U20s coach Chris Whitaker taken by his maturity and nous, as well as decision-making capacity and skills honed in the pressure cooker of the abbreviated format. Has scarcely played XVs in 2025 owing to his success with the sevens side and will be used as an impact sub on Whitaker’s 6-2 bench to take on the Junior Boks. A backrow, his impact on the breakdown, where Australia are placing major emphasis to combat the power game of their pool opponents, and a platform to impose their high-tempo style, will be vital. Sid Harvey and Tom Robinson should also play leading roles for an Australian team with designs on the title.
Scotland – Freddy Douglas
Though concussion rules him out of Scotland’s opening pool match against England, Douglas will be utterly essential to their World Championship prospects. He won his first full cap before playing a professional game for Edinburgh, a recognition of his enormous potential, becoming the youngest Scotland male player in over 60 years when he came off the bench against Portugal in November. Gregor Townsend is a long-time admirer.
While Henry Pollock drew the highlights and the headlines last year, Douglas was quietly immense for Scotland U20s, topping the charts for tackles made and breakdown steals pilfered during the Six Nations. It’s not just his ravenous nature and effective contributions, but his maturity in seeing when, and when not, to pounce. Even in his short cameo at Murrayfield, that nous was obvious. An openside flanker in the classic fetcher mould, he took up yoga aged 14 to help his jackaling. Now Scotland’s co-captain for their Italian quest. Jack Brown, another Edinburgh man, looks an enticing option in the back-three. Played some professional matches amid a spate of injuries at the Hive and took his chance admirably.
Harry Beddall (Wales)
Thierry Dusautoir was etched into rugby folklore after banging in 38 tackles against the All Blacks at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. In 2025, Welsh U20s captain Harry Beddall wasn’t far behind with a jaw-dropping 34 tackles against Ireland in this year’s age grade tournament, in a campaign in which he made over 100 tackles. Beddall was born in the Welsh capital, attending Cardiff High School and playing for St Peter’s RFC but was lured over the Bridge to Hartpury, before spending time at Leicester’s Academy. After an U20 Six Nations campaign steering Wales to tub-thumping wins over Ireland and England, it was announced he would be returning to Wales with the Dragons, where he expressed his excitement at working with Filo Tiatia. The feeling was mutual from the former Osprey enforcer. “His work-rate off the ball is outstanding, his collision work is very good, and he has a strong mentality that means he can perform and stay at a high level”, while his team-mate Harry Thomas described him as a ‘freak of nature’. Not a behemoth by modern-day standards, fair-haired Beddall bears a physical resemblance to England World Cup winner Neil Back. Like the best opensides, he is a total nuisance. If Wales can get on the front-foot, Aidan Boshoff, the young Bristol wing, is all energy and aggression out wide.
Dylan Pledger (New Zealand)
Glenn Dickson is a shrewd judge of talent. After all, the now Sports Director of King’s School in Dunedin was one part of a gifting half-back pairing with 84-cap All Blacks legend, Ben Smith, so when he said scrum-half Dylan Pledger was the ‘most impressive athlete he’d seen’, it pays to stand up and take notice. A star at last year’s U20 get-together in South Africa, scoring brilliant individual tries against France and Wales, he spurred the Baby Blacks to a third-placed finish, their best placing since 2017. An evasive scrum-half with balance, a low centre of gravity and oodles of pace, he formed a devastating ‘Landers partnership with Mika Muliaina, nephew of Test centurion, Mils. A winner of 2024’s Otago’s University player of the year, he is a rare talent. Following hot on his heels, will be All Blacks sevens star and former Hamilton Boys’ Oli Mathis who was ranked the No 1 school’s player in 2023 and voted as the Men’s Young Player of the Year last December.
Luke Murphy (Ireland)
Ireland missed the bulk of their starting pack during the Six Nations, contributing to a maddening campaign for the serial winners. Murphy was among those invalided out, the Shannon number eight undergoing a shoulder reconstruction and playing no part in what would have been his second championship at this level. His first, in 2024, was seriously impressive, notably for the last-minute try which snatched a draw against England. Coach Neil Doak is enthused by Murphy’s return. Inspired by CJ Stander at his home province of Munster, he will give Ireland heft and go-forward in the close-quarter skirmishes. Alex Usanov may need some game time to get up to speed but he, too, will offer Ireland’s pack a major boost after recovering from injury.
