Chile confirmed as first ever host nation of World Rugby U20 Challenger Cup in 2026
04/17/2025 05:41 AM
Chile has been confirmed as the host nation for the first-ever World Rugby U20 Challenger Cup in 2026, bringing some of the best young international rugby talent to South America. The cross-regional tournament will feature a minimum of six teams and marks another milestone in Chile's rapid rugby development.
Announced at Santiago's iconic Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, the tournament is seen as a crucial next step following Chile's debut at the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France. It also underscores the country's commitment to developing elite-level rugby infrastructure, including the ongoing progress of the High-Performance Rugby Center (CARR) in Mahuida Park.
The press event featured key sporting and political figures, including Chile Rugby Vice-President Raúl Sigren, Minister of Sports Jaime Pizarro, Governor of Santiago Claudio Orrego Larraín, national director of the Sports Institute Israel Castro, Chile Olympic Committee President Miguel Ángel Mujica, and Sudamérica Rugby Vice-President Jorge Pizzaro.
Details regarding participating nations, fixtures, and ticketing will be released by Chile Rugby in the coming months.
The Challenger Cup aligns with World Rugby's broader review of men's age-grade competition structures. The governing body is currently exploring the expansion of the annual U20 Championship from 12 to 16 teams by 2026, aiming to improve global competitiveness and sustainability. While the U20 Trophy will not take place in 2025, the new Challenger Cup fills a critical gap, offering teams valuable international experience as regional pathways evolve.
World Rugby's Chief of Competitions, Performance and Development Manager, Nigel Cass, welcomed the addition of the Challenger Cup to the age-grade calendar. "We believe this will be an exciting addition to the global U20s calendar in 2026 with some of the world's best young playing talent assembling in Chile for what promises to be an exciting event in a country that is embracing rugby, growing its fan and player base," he said.
Chile Rugby Vice-President Raúl Sigren echoed the significance of the announcement for the sport's future in the country. "This is truly a milestone for Chile Rugby and our vision to become the second sport in our country. The confidence and support that World Rugby continuously gives us is vital to achieve this goal. We have an enormous responsibility to deliver a world-class event in 2026 and to consolidate the role that we want to build in this sport," he said.
The U20 Challenger Cup will not only shine a light on emerging rugby nations but also serve as a crucial stepping stone for future stars of the international game. With the tournament set in a nation riding the wave of recent rugby success, anticipation is already building for what promises to be a landmark event in 2026.
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