Wednesday 8 June 2016 13:34, UK
The 2016 World Rugby U20 Championship kicks-off on Tuesday at the AJ Bell Stadium in Salford live on Sky Sports, with New Zealand looking to retain their title and hosts England hoping to go one better than their runners-up position last year.
The Championship brings together the best young talent from across the globe and during the 18 days of competition, new stars will emerge onto the world stage.
Since 2008, only three sides have lifted the title - New Zealand, South Africa and England. However, with Wales taking the 2016 U20s Six Nations Grand Slam and Australia recently beating New Zealand, we're set for a highly competitive Championship.
Ahead of Tuesday's opening matches in Salford and the Manchester City Academy Stadium, we cast our eye over the three pools and mark your card with a few players that you'll want to keep an eye out for...
Pool A
The reigning champions New Zealand are joined by Wales, Ireland and Georgia.
Georgia qualified by winning the U20s trophy last year and the Junior Lelos start in the most difficult manner possible by facing New Zealand.
Scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze will captain the side and his experience, playing in last year's senior Rugby World Cup, will be vital.
New Zealand have two returnees from the 2015 Championship and have an impeccable record at this level.
Jordie Barrett, brother of Beauden, will pull the strings at fly-half and prop Alex Fidow has impressed with his set piece ability and play in the loose.
Wales should be confident after their Grand Slam title and one player that excelled in that tournament is Harrison Keddie, whose physicality and leadership are expected to come to the fore over the coming fortnight.
Nigel Carolan's Ireland will be led by James Ryan, an athletic lock also tipped to have an excellent future, and the Irish will start their tournament by facing their Six Nations compatriots.
Pool B
Italy and Scotland will join two sides that are familiar opponents on the world stage, England and Australia.
The victories that Scotland recorded over England and Italy in the Six Nations will provide them confidence and head coach John Dalziel retains 23 of the squad that took part in that tournament.
Italy have avoided relegation on the final day of the last two Championships, the last placed side drops into the World Rugby U20 Trophy, and it's a relatively inexperienced Azzurrini side that will wish to do so again this time around.
Australia boast a number of players with Super Rugby experience including Lukhan Tui, James Tuttle and Sione Tuipulotu.
Coach Adrian Thompson has openly highlighted his side's need to counter the Northern Hemisphere's teams' 'focus on the set piece' and that will be tested straight away in their opener against Scotland.
Hosts England will field a plethora of players with Premiership experience and ones that turned heads during this domestic season including Harry Mallinder, Will Evans, Ollie Thorley and Johnny Williams.
The home side know the pressure that's on their shoulders given England's early exit in the senior competition and have to step up from their Six Nations outings to deliver.
Pool C
Argentina, France, Japan and South Africa make up the final pool in tournament
The Junior Springboks start their tournament against Japan and will be hoping that history doesn't repeat itself at age-grade level.
The squad features just two players that were involved in Italy last year and coach Dawie Theron has had to contend with a few more injuries than he'd like in the build-up.
Japan's winger, Ataata Moeakiola, will surprise a few people with his physical presence. The 20-year-old stands at 185cm and 110kg and his power will be key for the Japanese.
With six members of the sevens side that won silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games in 2014 the expectation is that Argentina will follow the example of their senior men and deliver high tempo attacking rugby.
France haven't won an age grade title for 10 years and in 2016 Olivier Magne wants this to change.
Damian Penaud, the 20-year-old Clermont centre, is certainly a man to watch. He's a player that beats defenders with ease and will be a handful for all in Pool C.
Watch the World Rugby U20 Championship exclusively on Sky Sports.
South Africa v Japan is live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 3pm on Tuesday afternoon, followed by Wales v Ireland and England v Italy.
