Scotland confirm U20 team ahead of World Rugby Junior World Championship play-off

Scotland U20 will be aiming to equal their best-ever finish at the tournament after booking their place in the play-off with an impressive 44-26 victory over Argentina last time out.

Asa Stewart-Harris (scrum half) and Alfie Blackett (second row) come into the starting line-up, while Oliver McKenna (prop) and Jack Utterson (back row) return to the team for the encounter with Wales.

There are also two positional changes from the previous game, with Christian Lindsay moving from the second row to flanker and Harvey Preston shifting from the opposite side of the back row to number eight.

Joe Roberts once again captains the side, while Jake Dalziel continues as vice-captain at stand-off.

Scotland produced one of their best performances of the tournament to overcome a physical Argentina side in Monday’s fifth-placed semi-final. Captain Roberts continued his form by scoring twice, while Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Nairn Moncrieff, Hamish MacArthur, Jamie Stewart and Harvey Preston also crossed the whitewash to secure Scotland’s place in the fifth-place final.

Wales booked their place in Friday’s decider with a dramatic 38-36 victory over Australia, setting up a meeting between the two sides.

Head coach Fergus Pringle said: “I was delighted with the way the team played against Argentina, starting well, creating opportunities and we were clinical. In the second half we lost momentum and had to weather the storm but then came back to finish strongly.

“Wales have had a great tournament and they have big players in key positions so we know the challenge we’re up against it.

“We’ve had a massive focus on recovery this week and the guys are in a good place ahead of what will be another great challenge for us and will round off what has been a great month together as a group.”

Scotland U20 team to play Wales in the 2026 World Rugby Junior Championship on Friday 17 July at the Avchala Stadium Tbilisi Georgia (kick-off 8.30pm local time, 5.30pm BST) – live on Premier Sports and Rugby Pass TV:

15. Rory McHaffie (Edinburgh Rugby)
14. Daniel Kelly (Edinburgh Rugby)
13. Henry Kesterton (Edinburgh Rugby)
12. Alex Bryden (Glasgow Warriors)
11. Nairn Moncrieff (Edinburgh Rugby)
10. Jake Dalziel (Merchiston Castle/Newcastle Red Bulls) Vice-Captain
9. Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens RFC)

1. Oliver McKenna (Glasgow Warriors)
2. Joe Roberts (Glasgow Warriors) Captain
3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby)
4. Alfie Blackett (Cardiff Metropolitan University)
5. Dan Halkon (Glasgow Warriors)
6. Christian Lindsay (Edinburgh Rugby)
7. Jack Utterson (Edinburgh Rugby)
8. Harvey Preston (Glasgow Hawks)

Replacements

16. Jamie McAughtrie (Ayr RFC)
17. Jamie Stewart (Edinburgh Rugby)
18. Jackson Rennie (Glasgow Warriors)
19. Finlay Mather (Grammar Tec)
20. Oliver Finlayson Russell (University of St Andrews)
21. Matthew Fick (Edinburgh Rugby)
22. Calum Jessop (Heriots RFC)
23. Ewan Caven (Gloucester Rugby/Nottingham University)