new zealand formed an under 20 side for the first time in 2008. the catalyst for the creation of this side was world rugby's decision to scrap its under-19 and under-21 world championships in favour of a single under-20 tournament, originally known as the irb junior world championship and now known as the world rugby under 20 championship. the side won the first four editions of the competition (2008–2011), and again in 2015 and 2017.