The IRB Junior World Championship, which runs from June 4-22 in Stellenbosch and Cape Town, will be screened live to more than 240 million homes in 162 territories, a 14 per cent rise in coverage from last year.
Host Broadcaster SuperSport will produce live coverage of all 30 matches, the first time the whole tournament has been broadcast. Matches will also be streamed live via SuperSport’s website ensuring an increased global audience can see the live action for free.
Around the world, broadcasters showing live action for the first time include NBC in USA and ESPN Star in Asia, reflecting the strong growth of the Game in these territories, alongside leading sports broadcasters such as Fox Sport in Australia, Eurosport, France TV, RAI in Italy, Sky Sports UK, Bandsport in Brazil, Fiji TV and OSN across the Middle East. For the first time Maori TV in New Zealand and TG4 in Ireland will cover the tournament.
“The IRB Junior World Championship continues to go from strength to strength attracting new fans and broadcasters with its renowned brand of exciting and open matches played in a festival atmosphere at wonderful venues,” said IRB Tournament Director Philippe Bourdarias.
“The future stars of world Rugby will be on show in the rich Rugby heartland of Cape Town and Stellenbosch for 22 days next month, and the tournament provides fans around the world with the ability to see the next generation of Patrick Lambies, Sam Warburtons and Will Genias.”
The tournament also has a social edge with people able to have their say by tweeting @irbjuniors and #JWC or following via Facebook.
The tournament will be up against it given that the Boks will be taking on the Poms at the same time, but the fixtures have been sorted so they do not clash, and organisers are anticipating an event that will showcase South Africa’s passion and appetite for major Rugby events, world class Rugby and a unique fan experience.
The final SA U20 JWC squad :
(Backs): Marais Schmidt, Dillyn Leyds, Travis Ismaiel, Raymond Rhule, Tshotsho Mbovane, William Small-Smith, Paul Jordaan, Patrick Howard, Jan Serfontein, Tony Jantjies, Handrè Pollard, Vian van der Watt, Abrie Griesel.
(Forwards): Wiaan Liebenberg (c), Shaun Adendorff, Khaya Majola, Braam Steyn, Fabian Booysen, Pieter Steph du Toit, Ruan Botha, Paul Willemse, Marvin Orie, Maks van Dyk, Allan Dell, Oliver Kebble, Steven Kitshoff, Mark Pretorius, Jason Thomas.
The next few days for the Baby Boks …
Thursday 31 May
10h30: Signing session at Neelsie Centre
Friday 1 June
10h00: Team training Gardens Tech Rugby Club, Oranjezicht
13h00: Official opening JWC, Cape Town Stadium
Saturday 2 June
10h00: Team training Gardens Tech Rugby Club, Oranjezicht
Sunday 3 June
12h30: Junior Boks team announcement
Monday 4 June
18h45 Opening match, South Africa versus Ireland, Coetzenberg
The JWC Fixtures:
04 Jun 2012
14:45 Australia vs Scotland, UWC
14:45 Wales vs Fiji, Coetzenberg
16:45 England vs Italy, UWC
16:45 New Zealand vs Samoa, Coetzenberg
18:45 France vs Argentina, UWC
18:45 South Africa vs Ireland, Coetzenberg
08 Jun 2012
14:45 Fiji vs Samoa, UWC
14:45 Australia vs Argentina, Coetzenberg
16:45 France vs Scotland, UWC
16:45 New Zealand vs Wales, Coetzenberg
18:45 South Africa vs Italy, UWC
18:45 England vs Ireland, Coetzenberg
12 Jun 2012
14:45 Argentina vs Scotland, UWC
14:45 Ireland vs Italy, Coetzenberg
16:45 Wales vs Samoa, UWC
16:45 France vs Australia, Coetzenberg
18:45 New Zealand vs Fiji, UWC
18:45 South Africa vs England, Coetzenberg
Semi finals – 17 June, 17h00 and 19h15, Coetzenberg
Final – 22 Jun, 18:45, Coetzenberg
