Junior Wallabies quickest out of the blocks to defeat Spain on day one of the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026

For such a proud sporting nation, a maiden Junior World Championship title would do just nicely for Australia – and they got their campaign off to an impressive start.

Action from the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 Pool D match between Australia and Spain at AIA Arena in Kutaisi, Georgia, on 27 June. Photo: Giorgi Arjevanidze / World Rugby.

Runners-up in 2010 and 2019, the Junior Wallabies are aiming to go all the way this time around and they will certainly take encouragement from this 14-try display in Kutaisi.

Australia’s previous highest score in the tournament came courtesy of an 86-0 win against Canada in the 2009 pool stage in Japan.

They surpassed that figure here but could not keep out a spirited Spain outfit who ran in four second-half tries of their own to claim a bonus point in defeat.

Australia’s tries came from Luca Cleverley, Ewald Kruger (two), Eli Langi, Angus Grover, Edwin Langi, Chayse Geros, Tom Robinson, Zach Fittler (two), TJ Talaileva (two), Sam Blank and Charlie Hollyman.

Yet Los Leones U20 showed remarkable bravery to keep fighting and they were richly rewarded in the second half with tries from Ivan Farace, Mauro del Campo and Oriol Marsinyac Garcia (two) to take something out of the game.