IF THE IRISH UNDER-20 team want to improve upon their fifth place finish the next Junior World Cup, they will have to go through the Australians and New Zealanders to do so.
Mike Ruddock’s side have been drawn to face the Aussies, ‘Baby Blacks’ and Fiji in the 2013 Junior World Cup.
The competition will take place in France next June with South Africa as defending champions.
Ireland kick-off their cup pursuit with a match against Australia in Vannes on 5 June and play Fiji, four days later, at the same venue.
The encounter with New Zealand is scheduled for 13 June while the final will be played in Vannes on 23 June.
Production line
This June, 35,000 fans saw history being made as hosts South Africa became the first team other than the Baby Blacks to lift the coveted trophy in the five-year history of the event.
Ireland were beaten just once, by England in the pool stages, on their way to a fifth place finish last time out.
JJ Hanrahan was nominated as one of the tournament’s top three players while Iain Henderson, who will feature on the bench for Ireland against the Springboks on Saturday, also featured.
Fédération Française de Rugby president Pierre Camou said “The FFR is extremely pleased and proud to be hosting this prestigious international event.
“We have always been committed to the promotion of youth through our system and therefore this tournament holds a special importance for us.”
11 French players that have appeared at the JWC competitions, including Benjamin Fall, Morgan Parra and Mathieu Bastareaud, have graduated to full national honours.
