The IRB Under 20’s Junior World Championship was first competed for in Wales in 2008 as an amalgamation of the previous IRB U19 and IRB U21 competitions.

The original tournament featured 16 sides but since 2010 has been contested by 12 men’s junior national teams with an Under 20 age requirement.

The Junior World Championship is the upper level of a new IRB tournament structure for U-20 national sides. At the same time that the Junior World Championship was launched, the IRB also launched a second-level championship, the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy, featuring eight teams.

Since it’s inception the competition has been dominated by the southern hemisphere, with England the only northern hemisphere side to make the finals. In reality the competition has been dominated by New Zealand U20’s affectionately (or otherwise) known as the Baby Blacks who have won every tournament and remain unbeaten over the tournament’s three year history.

YEAR	HOST	FINAL	THIRD PLACE
2008	Wales	New Zealand 38 – 3 England	South Africa 43 – 18 Wales
2009	Japan	New Zealand 44 – 28 England	South Africa 32 – 5 Australia
2010	Argentina	New Zealand 62 – 17  Australia	South Africa 27 – 22 England

Ireland’s history in the tournament is somewhat less auspicious with an 8th place finish in 2009 being their most successful tournament to date. Unfortunately at that age grade Ireland have struggled to match the big and beefy packs of the southern hemisphere, with England’s corn fed and hand reared stars the only side bulked enough to last the battering schedule of 5 games in 16 days. Even the somewhat physical French struggle to stay focused over such a demanding tournament.

Despite the difficulties the tournament has brought some of Ulster’s youngsters to the fore.

Wales 2008:

Ireland found themselves in a group with New Zealand, Argentina and Tonga with the Irish youngsters only recording one win in the group stages. Their win over Tonga featured Ulster youngsters  Paul Karayiannis, Chris Cochrane, Jamie Smith, Michael Entwistle, James Sandford, Stephen Douglas and Ian Porter.

Ireland slipped into the 9 – 12 place play offs and finished the tournament on a high by beating Italy and Scotland to claim a 9th place finish.

Japan 2009:

Ireland were again placed with new Zealand and Argentina with Uruguay making up the group. Ulster youngsters Nevin Spence and Jonny Shiels play an active role in Irelands wins over Argentina and Uruguay with Ireland roaring into the 5 – 8 place play offs.

Unfortunately defeats by Wales and then Samoa see Ireland slip to 8th – their tournament best to date!

Argentina 2010:

Ireland who are placed in the same group as the hosts Argentina along with England and France, are blighted by injuries in the group stages and fail to win a game. With tournament captain Reece Ruddock injured for the duration the captaincy is taken over by Ulster’s Niall Annett who is joined by Adam Macklin, Nevin Spence and James McKinney, though Spence playing out on the wing struggles to make the impact he did the previous year.

Back in the 9 – 12 play offs Ireland rally and with Spence back in the centre the Ireland side push on to beat Samoa and then Scotland to finish 9th.

Italy 2011:

Who knows?

This has been a brutally hard and intense competition for Ireland in the past but with a strong and, crucially, experienced Leinster and Ulster backbone this team is fancied to do something this year.

It all kicks off tomorrow night and Ireland are straight in to a must win game against one of the tournament favourites in England, but more of that when the teams are announced.

We’ll be covering Ireland’s first two matches with live text and we’ll be out in Italy for Ireland’s final group game and their play off matches, bringing you exclusive world championship coverage for the second year running.