After representing South Africa in the U19 World Cup last year, 19-year-old Riley Norton has now led the Rainbow Nation to the final of the U20 Rugby World Cup. It is a rare feat achieved by the Proteas youngster where he is representing his country in World Cups in two different sports.
MAL
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HKG
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SGP
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SAM
–
BHN
–
RWA
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SRS
73/10
MON
91/5
Monchengladbach beat Strass Rising Stars by 18 runs
SRS
129/8
DBS
128/6
Strass Rising Stars beat Dusseldorf Blackcaps by 2 wickets
BBS
167/5
DBS
168/2
Dusseldorf Blackcaps beat Bonn Blue Star by 8 wickets
MON
90/8
SCK
123/6
SC Krefeld Boosters beat Monchengladbach by 33 runs
SCK
89/9
BBS
95/4
Bonn Blue Star beat SC Krefeld Boosters by 6 wickets
TBC
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TBC
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TBC
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TBC
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TBC
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TBC
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TBC
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TBC
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91YC
128/9
BCC
129/4
Bud Cricket Club beat 91 Yards Club by 6 wickets
CCC
156/6
NAJC
142/9
City Cricket Club beat Nabajyoti Club by 14 runs
NVR
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NAJC
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GTC
–
CCC
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CD
–
RR
79/10
GAW
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RR
–
KRMPS
131/1
GUJCC
129/7
ACE KRM Panthers beat Gujrat Cricket Club by 9 wickets
ALECC
108/3
RLC
107/10
Al mulla Exchange beat Royal Lions CC by 7 wickets
CHK
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CEC-A
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MECS
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BNC
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MIB
80/6
BRT
112/5
Boca Raton Trailblazers beat Miami Blaze by 32 runs
CBS
107/3
GCF
80/2
Cayman Bay Stingrays beat Grand Cayman Falcons by 27 runs
FLI
107/6
MIB
98/10
Florida Lions beat Miami Blaze by 9 runs
VEV
61/4
CAT
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GCF
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MIB
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FLI
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CBS
–
CAT
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BRT
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VEV
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CBS
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CAT
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FLI
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UGAA
143/5
NBA
145/6
Namibia A beat Uganda A by 2 runs
KNY
108/8
NIG
88/9
Kenya beat Nigeria by 20 runs
UGA
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NIG
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UAE
–
KNY
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VMK
170/10
YAR
171/6
Yanam Royals beat Villianur Mohit Kings by 1 runs
RWT
175/7
MMS
164/8
Ruby White Town Legends beat Mahe Megalo Strikers by 11 runs
YAR
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KAK
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GLO
185/5
SUSS
189/6
Sussex won by 4 wickets
WOR
206/7
NOT
161/10
Worcestershire won by 45 runs
YOR
153/10
LAN
174/10
Lancashire beat Yorkshire by 21 runs
ESS
222/6
HAM
220/6
Essex beat Hampshire by 4 wickets
KENT
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ESS
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GLAM
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MID
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DER
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BB
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SUSS
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SURR
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SOM
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GLO
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DURH
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NOR
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NOT
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LAN
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LEI
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YOR
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LAN-W
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SOM-W
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ESS-W
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DUR-W
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SUR-W
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BRB-W
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HAM-W
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TBLZ-W
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EDC
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PNC
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ZIM
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NZ
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Notably, Norton impressed for the South Africa U19 and played a clinical role in their semi-final finish at the ICC event in 2024. In their final Super Sixes match where South Africa were struggling at 133-8, he played a match-winning unbeaten knock of 41* to steer the hosts to a competitive total of 232-8 against Sri Lanka. He then also took a 4-28 with the ball, dismantling the opposition for just 113 and securing South Africa’s berth in the semis in a dominant fashion.
The talented all-rounder, in five matches in the tournament, scored fifty runs and was dismissed only once, averaging at 50 and also picked up 11 wickets with the ball. He was the second-highest wicket-taker for his side at an average of 18.36 with only Kwena Maphaka taking more.
Prior to that, he made his debut for the Proteas U19 side in ODIs in a tri-nation tournament at home, featuring India and Afghanistan.
Norton has so far played eight Youth ODIs and has amassed 116 runs at 38.67 and 13 wickets at 22.23. However, since the U19 World Cup, he is yet to play for the national side in cricket but has now made headlines playing for his country in rugby.
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Led by Norton, South Africa has secured a spot in the 2025 U20 Rugby World Cup Final in Italy – their third appearance in the summit clash. Having previously triumphed in 2012 and finished as runners-up in 2014, the Junior Springboks hope to further solidify their legacy in the tournament.
They stormed through the group stage with commanding victories over Australia (73-17), defending champions England (32-22), and Scotland (73-14). They carried the momentum into the semi-finals, where they overpowered Argentina 48-24. Now, they are set to clash with New Zealand in the final on July 20, as they eye a second U20 world title.
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