History
The Junior Wallabies name was incorporated into the Australian under-20 crest prior to the 2018 season, but the name was also previously applied to several other teams in the history of Australian rugby. In the era of amateur rugby from the 1950s onwards, the Junior Wallabies team was selected from uncapped players (with no age restriction) to play against touring Test sides or to represent Australia on goodwill tours to Asia and the Pacific. Media publications sometimes also used the name Junior Wallabies to refer to age-graded national teams such as the Australian under-19 side, Australian Schoolboys, and later the Australian under-20 team.
Australia's highest finish at the World Rugby U20 Championship was second-place in 2010 and 2019. The team finished third in 2011 by beating France in the third place playoff, and fourth in 2009 after losing to South Africa 32–5 in the third place playoff.The Junior Wallabies also finished second in the first four editions of the Oceania U20 Championship before being crowned champions in 2019 after defeating New Zealand 24–0.
Selection policy
In June 2026, ahead of the team announcement for the 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship in Georgia, Rugby Australia (RA) made a major change to its selection policy by including overseas-based players in the Junior Wallabies squad for the first time. As had been standard practice, all players were selected locally. The policy's aim was to maintain connections with talented Australians playing abroad and reduce the risk of losing them to other nations, similar to Emmanuel Meafou, who later chose to represent France. While the decision was seen as potentially controversial because it reduces opportunities for locally based players, RA said it is necessary to strengthen the talent pool and adapt to the increasing number of Australians pursuing professional pathways in France.
The Sydney Morning Herald stated that the move reflected the growing number of young Australian rugby players developing in French club academies. Two France-based props, Lehopa Leota of Racing 92 and Hayden Lavercombe of Vannes, were expected to be selected for the Junior World Championship squad. RA said overseas selections would remain limited and will only apply to standout performers. The former was later selected in the squad.
Australia 81–12 Canada 
