Wales is set host the £3 million, 16-team international Under 20 tournament next month (June 6th-22nd) and today, the WRU announced that S4C and BBC Wales are to be joint host broadcasters for the tournament, while Invesco Perpetual, already partners of the WRU for the annual November series of Test matches, are the principal commercial partner of the tournament.
In addition to the host broadcast partners, announced today, the IRB has confirmed that the inaugural Junior World Championship looks set to break the broadcasting record for an IRB age grade tournament, with 16 broadcasters in over 70 countries worldwide set to take coverage from the tournament. This truly reflects the global appetite for this exciting new tournament, while highlighting S4C and the BBC’s strong reputation for excellent rugby production.
In addition, the tournament will benefit from significant investment, both practical and financial from a range of partners, taking the commercial sponsorship of the tournament to a value equivalent to £500,000, the largest ever commercial investment for an international age grade tournament.
The tournament will be the most widespread age grade tournament to date, with four Pools of four teams staying, training and playing at four venues across north and south Wales, providing top class rugby to all corners of the principality. The tournament’s legacy programme will also ensure the tournament leaves a lasting impact for many levels of the community in Wales.
Tickets for the inaugural tournament can be bought by phone on 08705 582 582 or online via Ticketmaster and Ticketweb.
Junior World Championship in figures
Invesco Perpetual and fellow WRU partner SWALEC are making significant financial investment into the tournament’s running costs, while many partners are providing vital products and equipment.
The tournament’s commercial partners include the likes of Webb Ellis who will supply a total of 2000 balls to the participating teams for training and playing, and to the clubs and schools talking part in the ‘adopt a nation’ initiative either as host clubs or as part of the tournament’s schools programme.
Rhino Rugby are due to provide training equipment totalling £100,000 to each of the participating teams, all of which is being made available to the host training clubs as part of the tournament’s legacy to Wales.
Powerade will provide 8000 litres of isotonic drinks to the teams, while Prince’s Gate will be providing 60,000 litres of water to meet the teams’ water requirements.
SEAT will provide 14 cars for tournament use, while Kukri will kit out the tournament’s staff and volunteers
The deals come on the back of significant support from UK Sport (£400,000), and the Welsh Assembly Government, along with the WRU and the IRB who all helped bring the tournament to Wales.
IRB Tournaments Manager Philippe Bourdarias said: “The appointment of one of the UK’s most successful investment companies highlights the global commercial appeal and prestige of what is a major tournament on the global rugby calendar and we are delighted that S4C and BBC Wales are the joint host broadcasters of the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship in Wales.
“Having the tournament broadcast on mainstream, terrestrial television in the host country will give a significant boost in profile across the whole of Wales and in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is also a significant boost to be able to offer our global licensed broadcasters the high quality of production synonymous with the BBC and S4C’s rugby coverage.”
WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis commented: “Hosting the inaugural International Rugby Board Junior World Championship is a great tribute and huge opportunity for Wales and Welsh rugby and it endorses the WRU’s vision to bring the world to Wales and take Wales to the world.
“These sponsorship and broadcast deals will greatly enhance that vision. Invesco Perpetual are already one of the WRU’s principal partners and it is a fantastic acknowledgment of the standard of the tournament that they have become principal partners for the event, leading the long list of commercial partners who are all supporting our bid to make the tournament a great success.”
WRU Chairman David Pickering said: “Television is a vital tool in the promotion of rugby and this host broadcaster announcement adds huge value to the Junior World Championship. S4C and BBC Wales are widely respected throughout the rugby world for their high standard of rugby coverage and along with their commitment to live matches in Wales and throughout the UK, their production of matches for foreign broadcasters is already generating more interest for an international age grade tournament than ever before.
“We are very grateful to all our partners, from both the public and private sectors for their whole-hearted commitment to the success of this tournament.”
Rick White, Marketing Director Invesco Perpetual said: “Invesco Perpetual is delighted to sponsor the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship. Through our sponsorship of the “Invesco Perpetual Series” each autumn we have developed a good relationship with the WRU and, by supporting the IRB Junior World Championship, we are pleased to be investing in the next generation of world rugby stars.”
Geraint Rowlands, Content Editor Sport, S4C said: “Rugby is a key part of S4C’s television coverage and we are enormously excited at the prospect of showcasing the future stars of the game in what will be a massive tournament for the whole of Wales. We are looking forward to being involved in what promises to be a tremendously exciting event.”
Nigel Walker, BBC Wales Head of Sport said: “We are absolutely delighted to be acting as joint Host Broadcaster to the IRB Junior World Championship in Wales. BBC Wales has a long standing affiliation with rugby union and we are excited at the opportunity of parading the potential rugby superstars of the future to audiences throughout Wales and beyond.”
Simon Morton, UK Sport’s Events Consultant said: “UK Sport is delighted to be supporting the IRB Junior World Championships with up to £400,000 from our National Lottery funded World Class Events Programme. This event is an extremely important competition in the rugby calendar and will be the largest rugby event staged anywhere in the world this year. Furthermore, it will give young players from all the home countries a fantastic opportunity to perform in front of a home crowd.”
“Rhodri Glyn Thomas, the Sports Minister commented: “I’m delighted that the Welsh Assembly Government has been able to work with the Welsh Rugby Union to bring the inaugural Junior World Championship at Under 20 level to Wales next year. The Championship is the pinnacle of age-grade rugby and the International Rugby Board’s decision to hold it here means that the world’s best young rugby talent will be on show right here in Wales.
“The spread of games between Swansea, Wrexham, Newport and Cardiff means that people all over Wales with get a chance to see the games and give our visitors a wider taste of what Wales as country has to offer. I certainly hope the Welsh team will make the most of the home advantage, secure the trophy and give a boost to rugby in Wales.”
Live IRB Junior World Championship matches on Television
(unless highlighted as red button viewing, all matches are available on both analogue and digital channels)
| Date | Match | Time | Channel |
| 06/06/2008 | Wales v Italy | 19.10 | BBC Wales (Analogue & Digital) |
| 10/06/2008 | Wales v Japan | 19.10 | BBC Wales |
| 10/06/2008 | New Zealand v Ireland | 21.00 | S4C |
| 14/06/2008 | Australia v England | 15.00 | BBC (Red Button) |
| 14/06/2008 | Wales v France | 17.00 | S4C |
| 18/06/2008 | 1st Pool C v 1st Pool B | 19.10 | BBC Wales |
| 18/06/2008 | 1st Pool A v 1st Pool D | 21.00 | S4C |
| 22/06/2008 | Third-Place Play-Off | 17.00 | S4C |
| 22/06/2008 | The Final | 19.00 | S4C |
