The cream of the world's Under 21 players have been amassing in the Thames Valley during the week for this year's IRB U21 World Cup, in association with VISA, that kicks off on Friday, June, 13th.

The pool stages will be played at three venues, Newbury RFC, Henley RFC and Iffley Road, Oxford, with the tournament semi finals and final taking place at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford, June 25 and 29 respectively.

South Africa are the defending champions and arrived at their Holiday Inn Hotel in Oxford last Monday with a huge entourage of back-up support.

"They are so focused it's a pleasure to work with them," said their Liason Officer Chris Ellerington.

The squad have been training together on a regular basis since November last year and arrived with a 12 strong support team to look after the squad's well-being.

In stark contrast Canada arrived the same day with coach Scott Stewart, formerly of Harlequins and Bedford, hoping to use the tournament as a proving ground for his inexperienced young squad.

Because of the enormous size of the country getting a squad together for training prior to any competition is virtually impossible due to the costs involved.

That's not a problem for second seeds Australia, despite its size, as all the rugby playing states lie on the Eastern seaboard.

The Vodaphone sponsored Aussies who face England at Iffley Road in their opening match on Friday (13th) are determined to go one better than they did in South Africa last year when they lost to the host nation in the final.

The squad includes ACT Brumbies Mark Gerrard, New South Wales Rocky Elsom and the Queensland pairing of Josh Valentine and Mati Kefu, brother of Wallaby flanker Toutai Kefu, just four of the squad with Super 12 experience behind them.

"They are professional and their experience playing at Super 12 level will give us an edge," says coach and Brumbies forwards mentor Laurie Fisher.

New Zealand also bring with them a very experienced squad including Blues centre Sam Tuitupou who's in the squad for the third year running and eight other players who played in South Africa last year.

They include Hurricanes prop Tim Fairbrother, Otago flanker Tom Harding, brother of All Black flanker Sam, Manawatu wing Lafemi Mafi and the Wellington pair of lock Kane Thompson and flanker Thomas Waldron.

Another player to watch out for will be Auckland wing Anthony Koonwaiyou who's played for the New Zealand Sevens side.

Although they've lost three of their squad to the senior side the Wales U21 management remains supremely confident they can make a big impact on this year's tournament as they did in South Africa last year when finishing fourth.

Coach Wayne Hall says: "We have to go there looking to win it. We have a strong squad, and we are definitely in with a shout of finishing in the top three."

Italy, based at the Holiday Inn, Newbury, include full international Mirco Bergamasco in their squad. The Petrarca Padova full back and younger brother of Italy's much capped wing Mauro Bergamasco won two of his caps before he was 19.

England announced their final squad for the tournament yesterday (Tues 10th) from the team hotel in Chipping Norton and although they have lost several regulars to injury the bulk of their Six Nations Championship side remain including flying wings Marcel Garvey and Ugo Monye.

The remaining teams have continued to arrive over the past 48 hours and all will be attending today's opening ceremony at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford, 6-30pm.

COMPETING TEAMS: Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Wales.

OPENING FIXTURES - Friday, June 13th : Iffley Road, Oxford, South Africa v Ireland 3pm, Australia v England 7pm; Henley, Scotland v Wales 3pm, Japan v New Zealand, 7pm; Newbury, Argentina v Canada 5pm, France v Italy 7-30pm.