Players at the World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 in Italy will come together on Wednesday to show their support for fair sport on Keep Rugby Clean Day.
All of the players preparing for the final round of pool matches in Calvisano and Verona will wear distinctive t-shirts during their warm-ups in a collective stance against doping.
Keep Rugby Clean is World Rugby’s anti-doping education and awareness programme. It aims to deter doping by educating participants on their responsibilities, raising awareness of doping risks and fostering an ethical clean-sport ethos across our game.
Antoine Deliance, who will captain France in their Pool B decider against Argentina in Verona, said: “Rugby is a sport built on respect, courage, and integrity. As captain, I’m proud to stand for clean sport. Wearing this shirt during warm-up is a reminder to everyone that true strength comes from honesty and hard work.”
A sentiment echoed by his England counterpart Tom Burrow, who acknowledged the importance of education in the sport and for the U20 teams to support the programme.
“It's important to have visibility around a key issue like doping, especially with the world's best teams coming together this month,” said Burrow ahead of his side’s must-win match with Australia. “The England team and I are proud to support the programme and look forward to wearing the shirt this Wednesday to raise awareness.
“The campaign upholds rugby values and maintains the game's reputation as a clean and fair sport. It’s important to have consistent and regular education on regulations in the sport and we have received positive support about our processes.”
A shared goal
The shared goal of clean sport is a key message for Italy’s Gianmarco Pietramala.
“I have learned a lot from playing rugby: values that I have made my own and that I carry with me off the field as well. Committing collectively to keeping this wonderful sport clean is a shared goal that we must uphold at every level.
“I am glad that World Rugby is working to deliver such an important message as ‘Keep Rugby Clean,’ and I am confident that all of us — players, staff members, and organisers — will honour this commitment in the best way.”
New Zealand scrum-half Jai Tamati added: “It's important to support Keep Rugby Clean Day because when we show our support on the world stage we set an example for the rest of the sport at school level and club age-grade level.
“Keep Rugby Clean Day means keeping our sport fair. It's means hard work and dedication get you to the highest level, and not cheating. It's important to Keep Rugby Clean so the sport remains on a fair and even playing field across the world.
“We learned the process around anti-doping testing at tournaments, and the consequences for a failed test. It was good to know that the process is a robust one that is used worldwide.”
Ireland captain Éanna McCarthy, whose side face a Pool C decider with New Zealand in Calvisano, said: “Supporting Keep Rugby Clean Day is really important to the Irish team because it means we commit to hard work, honesty, and integrity both on and off the pitch. Clean sport protects the values of rugby and ensures a level playing field for everyone.”
Hard work, no shortcuts
Ahead of the U20 Championship, each of the 12 squads participated in an extensive programme comprising online and face-to-face education, delivered in their native language.
For Riley Norton, who has already led South Africa to top spot in Pool A before their match with Scotland in Calvisano today, Keep Rugby Clean “means playing with honest, integrity and pride – on and off the field”.
“It is important to support Keep Rugby Clean Day because it promotes fairness and reminds us that success should come from hard work, not shortcuts. It protects the spirit of the game and ensures a level playing field for everyone. The programme taught us how to make safe, informed decisions and understand our responsibility as athletes.”
Spain captain Pau Massoni added: “It’s important to support Keep Rugby Clean Day so we can understand that the decisions we make have consequences for better and for worse. It keeps the values facing to the public.
“Keeping rugby clean is important because it makes us compete under the same circumstances. It helps to compete and perform at the maximum level without cheating, avoiding differences.”
World Rugby work closely with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and national anti-doping organisations to deter intentional doping behaviours and avoid accidental doping.
For more information on the Keep Rugby Clean campaign, please visit to www.world.rugby/keep-rugby-clean.
