The Georgians will host the tournament, of which England are current champions, for the first time when the event gets underway in the cities of Tbilisi and Kutaisi.

The pool stages are due to played on May 31, June 4 and June 8,

The semi-finals will then be contested on June 13 with the final, at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, closing the tournament on June 18.

Pool A sees 2016 champions England face Australia, Wales and Samoa.

Pool B, which will be based in Kutaisi, will see 2016 runners-up Ireland play New Zealand, Scotland and Italy.

Hosts Georgia will compete in Group C against Argentina, France and South Africa in the capital Tbilisi.

More than 430 players have made the step up from the Under-20 Championship to the international arena since the tournament began in 2008.

Three teams have lifted the coveted trophy in its history, New Zealand have won it on five occasions between 2008 and 2011 and 2015 and England have been crowned winners three times in 2013, 2014 and 2016. 

South Africa were the only other victors, winning in 2012.

"The World Rugby Under-20 Championship is proving to be an enormously popular and important tournament," said World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont.

"It plays a key developmental role in preparing the future stars of the game.

"I have no doubt that we'll see passionate and energetic crowds in Tbilisi and Kutaisi next year as all 12 teams put on a masterclass for fans.

"With preparations continuing for Rugby World Cup 2019, many of the players we see in Georgia could also feature on the greatest stage in Japan in just under three years' time."

You can view the complete pool stage fixture list here.