Schedule for Under-21 world champs

New Zealand will play Italy and then England before facing Australia in the International Rugby Board under-21 rugby championship in France next month.

New Zealand are seeded 3rd, Italy 10th, England 7th and Australia 2nd -- the positions they finished in the previous championship.

Matches will be staged at Riom, Issoire, Thiers, Cournon d'Auvergne, Vichy and Clermont Ferrand, all in the Auvergne region from June 9-25.

POOLS (plus seedings)

Pool A: 1-South Africa, 5-Wales, 9-Ireland
Pool B: 2-Australia, 7-England, 10-Italy
Pool C: 3-New Zealand, 6-Scotland, 11-Fiji
Pool D: 4-France, 5-Argentina, 12-Georgia.

FIXTURES

June 9
South Africa v Argentina
Wales v Georgia
Ireland v France
Australia v Scotland
England v Fiji
Italy v New Zealand

June 13
South Africa v Georgia
Wales v France
Ireland v Argentina
Australia v Fiji
England v New Zealand
Italy v Scotland

June 17
South Africa v France
Wales v Argentina
Ireland v Georgia
Australia v New Zealand
England v Scotland
Italy v Fiji

June 21 -25
Play-offs for positions 5th to 12th, plus semifinals and final

- NZPA