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Belgium’s u20 rugby team pulled off an emphatic 41–14 blowout victory over Canada today in Santiago, Chile. Competing in the second round of Pool B at the inaugural 2026 World Rugby Under 20 Challenger Cup, the young Belgian side dominated the physical breakdown and territory, frustrating a heavily favored Canadian squad from the opening whistle.
The lopsided result serves as a massive reality check for the Canadians, who entered the fixture with immense confidence. In their tournament opener, Canada dismantled Namibia in a breathtaking 95–6 bonus-point victory, signaling they were early favorites to contend for the tournament crown. However, the team struggled to find that same attacking cohesion today against a disciplined Belgian defensive system.
On the flip side, the performance cements Belgium’s status as the true breakout team of the tournament. After stunning Portugal with a tight 22–15 upset in the opening round, the European debutants proved their initial success was no fluke. Their systematic breakdown of Canada’s defensive line demonstrated a high level of tactical maturity under pressure.
Canada’s points on the day were restricted to just two converted scores. Chris Rose and Liam Kinghorn managed to cross the try line for the Canadians, with Joe Kaufmann and Jonty Nicholas executing the subsequent conversions. Unfortunately for Canada, these flashes of offensive brilliance were completely overshadowed by Belgium’s relentless multi-phase attacking pressure and execution.
With two consecutive wins under their belt, Belgium now commands an advantageous position in Pool B heading into the final stretch of the group phase. Canada will have to quickly patch up their defensive vulnerabilities before their final group-stage match against Portugal on October 12, 2026.
