A look back at some of the stand out individual performers from across the world from nations outside "Tier 1" over this past year of U20 rugby. To read a full review of all the results across the world in U20 rugby in 2019 click here.





Forwards:

1. Luka Azariashvili (Georgia)

Azariashvili has been a strong jackler for Georgia U20 these past two years

2. Vano Karkadze (Georgia)

Front rowers Karkadze, Tevdorashvili, and fly half Abzhandadze all show neat passing skill twice in this passage of play vs New Zealand

3. Gia Kharaishvili (Georgia)

Georgia scrum dominates every opponent at the U20 Championship - they won 25 scrum penalties to 2 over the 5 matches

4. Etonia Waqa (Fiji)

Highlights of Waqa's strong long striding running and offloading game at the U20 Championship

Gelashvili's highlight package - note the fearsome chop vs Fiji at 0:34 and match securing tackle vs Scotland at 1:54

5. Renger van Eerten (Netherlands)

van Eerten big performance in the superb Netherlands win over Russia

6. Shota Fukui (Japan)

Fukui scoring vs Samoa A in the Pacific Challenge - he was a talisman for Junior Japan and Japan U20

Vailea was much too strong for Kenya scoring a hat trick in his 40 minutes

7. Alivereti Loaloa (Fiji)

"Great pick up" off his toes whilst running at speed from Loaloa creates Fiji try vs Scotland

8. Ioane Iashagashvili (Georgia)

Iashagashvili try saving play vs Argentina - he was one of the leading tacklers this year in U20 rugby

Koelman's strong all round performance in the big win over Russia - a player with enormous potential





Backs:

9. Will Percillier (Canada)

Percillier's 60 metre individual try vs USA

Aurrekoetxea's double goosestep individual try vs Portugal

10. Tedo Abzhandadze (Georgia)

Some of Abzhandadze's best moments of play on the tour of South Africa

11. Bart Wierenga (Netherlands)

Wierenga's pace caused problems for Portugal

Yamaguchi was the revelation of the U20 Trophy for Japan and notably made three vital contributions to winning the final





12. Gonzalo López (Spain)

López repeatedly powerfully punching through gainline against Romania

13. Rodrigo Marta (Portugal)

Marta breaks the resistance of the Netherlands in the RET where he was leading scorer in Portugal's promotion campaign

14. Raffaele Storti (Portugal)

Highlights of Storti's sensational U20 Trophy where he equalled the tournament try scoring record with 9 in 4 games

15. Osea Waqa (Fiji)

Highlights of Waqa's beautiful passing and offloading skills creating space for teammates at the U20 Championship

Azariashvili switched sides of the scrum this year to loosehead, not as active in the loose as last year but still showed some of his strong jackalling game, and with him there the scrum only looked even more monstrous than it did before. Although still yet to make his senior debut, he was recently awarded a long 4 year contract extension at Montpellier and is expected to do so in the very near future.He shared minutes withwho more than ably backed him up and was the most active carrier of the Georgian props. Elsewhere USA'sdid not play U20 rugby this year but moved fast in the senior ranks making a few sub appearances in the Top 14 for Toulouse and the national team.Signed by Aurillac following success with Georgia U18 last year, Karkadze quickly progressed to the first team where he was youngest front rower playing senior professional rugby last season, and then became the second youngest hooker ever to make his international debut in the REC. He brings excellent energy as a carrier, notably scoring the winner against Fiji, showed good hands, and part of the huge scrum.Another hooker who played international rugby iswith the USA after moving from Saracens Academy to San Diego Legion although did not play U20 this year. Japan's mobile hookeralso showed good speed around the park in the mould of Shota Horie.No let up in Georgian tighthead stocks this year with Kharaishvili, a broad short necked prop who looks like he was simply built to scrum. He was at the forefront of the most dominant set of U20 Championship scrummaging performances Georgia have produced to date winning a massive 25 scrum penalties over the tournament (Kharaishvili involved in 18 of those). Already made his Top 14 debut at age just 19 with Racing 92 last season, he could possibly grow into one of the top scrummagers in the game.Another Georgian who made his senior debut last season wasfor Angoulême in Pro D2 and was also part of their big scrum with some contributions in the loose too. Meanwhile in the U20 Trophyalso did well with Japan's superiority at scrum playing a huge role in their success.A rangy lock who featured strongly throughout for Fiji as one of their most effective ball carriers with also offloading ability which created two of the tries against Scotland. A scholarship player in New Zealand, he was also late last year part of the Bay of Plenty U19 team that won a national title, but could start his senior career back in Fiji after he was named in the Fijian Drua training squad.Another strong performer at lock was Georgia's tough tackling, whose defence played a big role in wins over Scotland and Fiji, also showed good passing out wide vs Argentina in the warm ups.Over the past couple of years the Dutch U20s have certainly been living up to their reputation for height with no shortage of 2 metre plus locks coming through. This year 2.03m Renger van Eerten, was repeatedly pinching ball from opponents lineouts in the Rugby Europe U20 tournament, and played a leading role in the performances vs Portugal and Russia. He has since been signed by Brive Espoirs.Fukui progressed a lot from a disappointing lack of game time last year, and was the captain and talisman of the Junior Japan and Japan U20 teams, not only a strong ball carrier but also very skilful and adept at more subtle areas of back row play and started games in all three positions. He was the only U20 player in the entire Top League last season, and has potential to possibly emerge at senior level a bit quicker than is usual for Japanese players and add to their growing back row depth.Another in Japan's back row waswho moved from wing to flanker this year. A destructive ball carrying presence in the wide channels he was the second leading scorer in the U20 Trophy with 7 tries. Longer term chances of senior honours are probably better on the wing (where he played in the match against Kenya and scored a first half hat trick).A pupil from the famous Ratu Kadavulevu School, Loaloa was captain and star player of Fiji U18s last year, and graduated to playing for the Fiji Warriors and Fiji U20 teams this year. He is strong over the ball and an excellent link player in the back row with good hands. He has since opted to sign for Nevers Espoirs in France rather than go the Fijian Drua career route as some of the other U20s are doing.A workhorse of a number 8, Iashagashvili played the most minutes (392 out of 400) of any player in the Georgian squad this year. A determined player with a high work rate in the tight, one of the leading tacklers in the competition, and main lineout option. Also reportedly excelled in senior rugby in the Didi 10, has since signed for Bayonne Espoirs, and should be a leading player in next year's U20 group.One of the most dynamic back rows was Netherlands captainwho is currently in New Zealand having moved from Leicester U18. He was a big all round presence for the Dutch in the Rugby Europe U20 qualifiers with power carrying, match winning turnovers, and impactful hits in defence.This year Percillier signed for Stade Français Espoirs (same club Canada's best ever scrum half Morgan Williams made his name), won his first senior caps in the ARC, and finished some great tries with the U20s (8 in 6 games in all) both through individual efforts and tracking excellent support lines. Many Canada fans believed he should be at this upcoming RWC, and his absence been questioned by some.Another standout U20 was, who followed his parents becoming a Spain international this year making his debut in the REC. After moving back from France to focus on studies and instead play a 20 match domestic senior season at El Salvador, he has now also taken up pro rugby ambitions again signing with Biarritz (not too far from his hometown of Getxo).Meanwhilewas the second youngest player in Super Rugby this year, however owing to the nature of NZ rugby contracts he was never going to play for Tonga U20 or the senior team in the RWC this year. He would have very likely played for New Zealand U20 this year but was not yet eligible.In his final year of U20s Abzhandadze led Georgia to another top 10 finish. He also became the Lelos senior first choice fly half last November, a role he had long been positioned for, and club wise signed a 3 year contract with Brive meaning he could potentially become the first ever Georgian fly half in a major domestic league. Fly halves from any Tier 2 nation are rare at the top level, and it will be a huge achievement both for the player, and Georgian rugby as a whole if he is able to succeed in the Top 14.Short stocky Fiji fly halfalso progressed solidly this year winning good reports representing Fiji Warriors, and now has since been added to the Fijian Drua training squad.Last year playing with Bay of Plenty U19 Wierenga won the NZ national title (alongside Etonia Waqa) and was joint lead try scorer in the competition. Returning home to the Netherlands, he then shone in Rugby Europe U20s, where he showed excellent pace but also good physical strength putting in some big hits defensively as well. He has since been signed by Toulouse Espoirs for next season.Another player to mention is the little 5'5" sidestepperwho Japan will be very thankful for his match winning contributions in the U20 Trophy final against Portugal. Fiji's, another from Ratu Kadavulevu School, also had a couple of super moments in the U20 Championship.Outside U20slooked impressive in the Clermont first team early in the season. However had bad luck with injury afterwards meant he missed his goal of making France U20. Still a player who Spain has not forgotten though, and the door is open for him to join their RWC 2023 qualifying push.A robustly built strong carrying 10/12 with a very solid all round game López was a big force for Spain U20 this year. At just 18 he also managed to become a regular name in Biarritz Espoirs lineups, and there is YouTube footage of him similarly punching through defences playing for them as well. His performances caught the eye of Brive Espoirs who have signed him for next season.Of the many young players who have been added to the Portugal senior team recently Marta has been perhaps the most successful. The leading try scorer in the RET promotion campaign, scoring tries at key moments to break the resistance of the Netherlands, and in the playoff vs Germany, and alongside Storti he added a lot to the Portuguese attack in the U20 Trophy cutting the line on numerous occasions.Storti scored a tournament record equalling 9 tries in the U20 Trophy, whilst he also created at least 3 more for teammates as well. It is not an exaggeration to say his ability to change direction at speed and finishing prowess alone was a large reason as to why Portugal were much more dangerous in attack at this tournament compared to Rugby Europe qualifying. He is already scoring tries in senior domestic rugby as well with CR Técnico, and could possibly feature in Portugal's return to the REC next year.Another player to note is Fijian scholarship player, a massive talent with footwork, fend offs, and offloading ability featuring in the Mitre10 Cup. He was named in a New Zealand U20 extended squad even though not yet eligible. Also part of Fiji U20 extended squad back in 2017 as well, but now all the hallmarks of a player in the NZ system unlikely to join Fiji at any level for forseeable future.An incredibly gifted player with nifty footwork, support running, kicking game, and some truly beautiful silky handling skill to create space for teammates. Notably scored a wonderful try vs Scotland reminiscent of Uluinayau vs France 1999. He represented Fiji Warriors in the Pacific Challenge, looks likely to play for the Fijian Drua in the NRC later this year, and is being eyed up by Fiji 7s.Another full back to note was Spain's, who played a 1200+ minute senior domestic season (over double the next highest amount of senior minutes for any other 18 year old in a league covered by itsrugby.fr), plus the 7s circuit where he was part of Spain's first side to beat New Zealand in Vancouver.