South Africa are World Champions yet again!

Messages of congratulations are streaming in after the Junior Springboks claimed the World Rugby U20 Championship title after a gritty 23-15 victory over New Zealand in a bruising final in Rovigo, Italy, on Saturday night.

The win marks South Africa’s first U20 crown since 2012 and capped off an unbeaten tournament run for the young Boks, whose trademark defence and resilience once again proved decisive.

Head coach Kevin Foote praised his side’s “South African defensive effort and gees” after they held firm under relentless pressure from the Junior All Blacks, especially during a tense second half.

“Defence is all about character, and there were moments when New Zealand were right on our line, but we held firm,” Foote said. “You can’t ask for more than that as a coach.”

It’s a dream start to Foote’s tenure, having taken over the reins at the end of 2024. Reflecting on the team’s journey, he called the players a “special group” and said watching their growth over the past months had been a privilege.

Captain Riley Norton, who led with composure despite slippery conditions and stifling humidity, said the win was for the fans back home.

“Our jerseys were soaked and the ball was hard to control, but we adapted well,” Norton said, crediting their Stellenbosch training camp for preparing them for the heat in Italy.

The Junior Boks are set to arrive home on Monday morning, landing in Johannesburg before rejoining their provincial unions.

It was certainly a great night for South African sport as the Springboks also beat Georgia, and Banyana Banyana booked their spot in the WAFCON semi-finals.