Fans of the eight competing teams at the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2015, which kicks off in Portugal next Tuesday (12 May), will be able to watch live streaming of the tournament around the world.
Two venues will be in use on each of the four match days during the tournament in Lisbon with all games being available to view via the Portuguese Rugby Union (FPR) website.
Fans have been encouraged to join the conversation via Twitter, sending messages of support to their players using the hashtag, #WorldRugbyU20s.
Uruguay and Georgia will kick things off at CAR Rugby do Jamor at 17:00 (local time) on Tuesday followed by the eagerly awaited Fiji v Portugal clash at 19:00. Meanwhile, over at Estadio Universitario, Lisboa, Canada will play Namibia at 17:00 with Tonga taking on Hong Kong at 19:00.
The eight captains appeared in the Portuguese capital on Sunday to promote the tournament. Posing for photographs at the historic Torre de Belém and the famous Padrão dos Descobrimentos in Lisbon, the players had the chance to see the sights and sample the atmosphere of this bustling European capital.
Host team skipper Duarte Diniz said: “It’s great for Portugal to host tournaments like this. We welcome all the other teams here and we want them to enjoy their time. The U20 Trophy will help to raise the visibility of rugby here. People around the world will see that we are serious about rugby and they will see what we are capable of.
“It’s a dream come true for me to captain my country at this tournament. I have worked very hard to be in this position and every day I try to be the best player I can be and to be a complete captain for my team. We are in good shape as a team, we have trained a lot for this and we are really focussed on the job ahead. It is going to be a great tournament and we are going to do our very best for each other and for our country.”
World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for all these young players to experience an important international tournament. They will receive education on issues like anti-doping, integrity and interacting with the media while also learning what it’s like to be in an intense, competitive, high-level rugby environment.
“Since this tournament’s inception in 2008, more than 200 players have gone on to earn full international honours with their country, including the likes of Luca Morisi of Italy, Levan Chilachava of Clermont Auvergne and Georgia, Chihito Matsui of Japan and home favourite, Portugal’s Bruno Medeiros. The World Rugby U20 Trophy was a useful stepping stone for those players as they sought to realise their dream of playing senior international rugby.
“I would like to wish all the players from each of the eight teams in Lisbon every success but, more importantly, I urge them to take the time to enjoy the experience and to make friends while embracing rugby’s core values of integrity, passion, respect, solidarity and discipline. And may the best team win.”
