Scotland U20 have opened their World Rugby Junior World Championship campaign with a 38-32 win over Italy U20 at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi.
The result gives Fergus Pringle’s side immediate Pool B momentum after a six-try performance in Georgia, with Scottish Rugby confirming a fast Scottish start and a decisive late score in a volatile opener.
Scotland survive Italy fightback
Debutant Dan Kelly struck inside the opening minutes, setting the tone for a game that quickly moved beyond a routine first-round assignment. Scotland had already beaten Italy 36-10 in the U20 Six Nations earlier this year, but this was a far more severe stress test.
World Rugby’s matchday-one preview had flagged Joe Roberts, Jake Dalziel and Italy captain Riccardo Casarin as key figures from the February meeting. This time, Scotland’s wider attacking spread mattered more than any single duel.
Henry Kesterton’s 72nd-minute try, converted by Dalziel, pushed Scotland to 38-29 before Italy added a late penalty. The closing margin still left Scotland with the essential result: a winning start before Pool B tightens.
Why this result matters
Scotland now move towards Thursday’s meeting with New Zealand U20 with scoreboard proof rather than promise. The previous ReadRugbyUnion Italy v Scotland preview framed this opener as a credibility test; Pringle’s side have passed it with enough attacking edge to worry the pool’s bigger names.
For a team still rebuilding at this level, six tries against a familiar Six Nations opponent is not background noise. It is a meaningful marker.
