IRB Junior World Championship Launched In Cardiff
With only days to go until the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship kicks off in Wales, the captains of the 16 participating teams came together in Cardiff Bay on Tuesday for the official tournament launch.
The captains were joined at the launch by IRB Vice Chairman Bill Beaumont, Welsh Rugby Union Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis and Chairman David Pickering, Minister for Heritage Rhodri Glyn Thomas, England head coach Nigel Redman and his New Zealand and Wales counterparts Dave Rennie and Patrick Horgan.
“Over the next three weeks the rugby community here in Wales, travelling supporters and those watching on TV from further afield will be treated to an exciting display of international class rugby,” said Beaumont.
“This tournament will certainly unearth the next generation of global stars while also performing a key development platform for players, coaches and administrators and importantly leaving a lasting legacy to world rugby.”
Eric Elwood’s Ireland side will begin their tournament campaign against Argentina this Friday night (Cardiff Arms Park, kick-off 7pm).
Ireland’s second pool game against New Zealand next Tuesday (Cardiff Arms Park, kick-off 9.10pm) will be televised live by Setanta Sports Ireland, S4C and British Eurosport 2.