Ready for another U18 and U20 Men’s Rugby Europe Championship? Both tournaments will be back next weekend, with 10 nations competing for the chance to hoist the title high!
The U18s champions, Georgia, will contend with Spain, Belgium, Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, Czechia and Portugal. In the U20s, the baby Lobos are the current title holders and will face a fierce contest from Switzerland, Czechia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and Germany.
However, the U18s and U20s aren’t just a common step in a player’s career; several former youth stars have gone on to become household names for their nations. As the list would be endless, we picked seven whose memorable performances still live on in everyone’s memories.
Raffaele Storti (Portugal – U18/U20)
Before Raffaele Storti electrified the packed stadiums of the 2023 Rugby World Cup and broke Pro D2 records, the wing made sure to leave his mark in the Rugby Europe youth competitions.
Be it in the U18s or U20s, Storti claimed several line breaks and tries, helping Portugal win two Rugby Europe U20 Championships, becoming one of the faces of the baby Lobos squads.
His exploits will live on in the memories of Portuguese fans and foes alike, having helped usher in a new era for the Lobos pack.
As the wing himself says.
“The European Under-18 and Under-20 Championships were decisive in my journey. They were the first tournaments where I truly felt what it meant to represent Portugal, to compete against more structured teams, and to understand where I stood in relation to the international level.
There I felt even more the importance of preparation, consistency, and teamwork. These tournaments gave me visibility and confidence to believe that it was possible to go further, and at the same time showed me how much work I still had to do.
These were moments that marked the beginning of my path in high-performance rugby, and where, above all, the ambition to take Portugal ever higher was born!”
Credit: Michal Kapusta
Joel Merkler (Spain – U18)
Joel Merkler, Stade Toulousain’s Big Red Machine, was a member of Spain’s U18 class of 2019, a year that the young Leones challenged Georgia for the champion title.
The massive menacing prop was one of his team’s top stars, pulverising his opposition in the scrum and knocking down any tackler that didn’t make the effort to go low.
As he went to become a Top 14 and Champions Cup champion, Merkler’s name won’t ever be forgotten for his passion, work-rate and drive in that U18 Championship.
Davit Niniashvili (Georgia – U18)
One of Rugby Europe’s most incredible illusionists and magicians, Davit Niniashvili, helped his country win two U18 Rugby Europe Championship titles, playing a massive role in both conquests.
The utility back, who earned his first senior cap when he was 19, skyrocketed to become a trailblazer not only for his country but for the whole Rugby Europe community, as seen by the several individual accolades won since he joined the Top14.
Despite his 2019 U18 victory being seen as minimal at the time, his performances that year were crucial in earning him a shot to go to France and become his best version.
Koen Bloemen (Netherlands – U18)
The towering, unbreakable Oranje tower, Koen Bloemen, was once a U18 and U20 international, helping his nation progress and develop into a thrilling top-4 contender.
Bloemen’s sensational performances in the 2016 U18 Rugby Europe Championship were pivotal for his career, catching Montpellier’s attention and earning an Academy contract with the French giants.
Ten years have passed since his U18 debut, having the lock won a Pro D2 and become one of Aurillac’s main protagonists, whilst representing his country with utmost passion and ambition.
The lock shared with us how vital the youth Men’s Rugby Europe Championship was for his career.
“The Rugby Europe U18 Championship was extremely important to me because it allowed me to go to France and start my career as a professional rugby player, and it also allowed me to compare myself with players my age from all over Europe.”
Marius Simionescu (Romania – U18/U20)
Simionescu might’ve been the best player of one of Romania’s last greatest youth generations, as the utility back was a leading figure in a side packed with superstars such as Cristi Chirica, Gabriel Rupanu and Vlad Neculau.
Despite Romania failing to reach the 2017 final, where they would lose to the then-would-be champions Portugal, the young Stejarii were a side packed with superb physicality and top-level skills.
Siminoescu bagged a few tries in helping his team finish in 3rd place, injecting insane speed and monstrous pace every time the oval-shaped ball found its way.
Adam Koblic (Czech Republic – U18/U20)
For the Adam Koblic fan club, did you know about the wing’s adventures in the U20 Men’s Rugby Europe Championship 2022?
Although Czechia came in last, Koblic was sensational from start to finish, igniting his team's attack every chance he got and pulling some of the most entertaining clean breaks of the competition.
Even though he never earned a professional contract outside his country, Koblic went on to become a firecracker for Czechia, helping the Bohemia Rugby Warriors claim sensational wins over the Romanian Wolves and the Brussels Devils.
The prolific try-scoring wing shared his testimonial about Rugby Europe’s youth grade competitions.
“Those tournaments helped me to improve as a player and impacted me massively, as they allow you to test yourself against players from other nations. It is a good way to know where you are and to connect with teammates from other clubs. As nations like the Czech Republic don’t have professional leagues, the Rugby Europe U18 and U20 Championship tournaments are vital to the development of young players, as they were for me. Thanks to them, I have nurtured and improved my skills.”
Matias Remue (Belgium – U18)
Another Stade Toulousain shining young star, and another memorable player who made sure people would remember his name in the 2021 Men’s Rugby Europe Championship.
Remue might be one of the most skilled players on this entire list, capable of playing as a fly half, centre and fullback, sowing desperation and doubts in the opposing side.
In 2021, Belgium wasn’t expected to finish high up in the table, but thanks to players like Remue, the U20 Diables Noirs claimed a sensational win against Russia to finish in the top 4 of that year’s tournament.
Do not miss the first rounds of the tournament on Saturday for U18 and Sunday for U20.
More information on U18 Championship 2025 & U20 Championship 2025
By Francisco Isaac
