South Africa showed their champion pedigree to retain their World Rugby Junior World Championship title after beating France 16-5 in an extraordinary final in Georgia on Saturday to secure back-to-back titles for the first time.
In a title decider delayed by 45 minutes due to lightning in the area around the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, there was no shortage of drama as the Junior Springboks had three tries disallowed and France one, but Kevin Foote's men were not to be denied as they eked out the win with a late try from Markus Muller and 11 points from the boot of fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed.
South Africa have now won 11 consecutive matches on the Junior World Championship stage and become the fourth team to go back-to-back after New Zealand (2008-11), England (2013-14) and France (2018-19). They now have three titles in the prestigious age-grade tournament, matching the tally of France, and beaten only by England (four) and New Zealand (six).
Jubilant captain Siphosethu Mnebelele beamed: “How does it feel? I don’t even know how to describe it to be honest. It’s amazing and credit to France but we just kept coming up and that’s the South African spirit. I’m really proud of the boys for that and it’s a great feeling.”
His France counterpart Lucas Andjisseramatchi, said: “It’s really disappointing but congratulations to the Junior Springboks. I’m really proud of the boys this year because we’ve done a great job – winning the Six Nations and reaching the final of the Junior World Championship. We’ll come back stronger.”
Foote added: “I think we were really happy with our defence. France played with their usual flair and they were also big and physical, so we had to soak that up.
“But that’s the story of this team – they never give up and it means everything to us and our country. Rugby is in a very special place in South Africa now and we’re very lucky to represent them – to go back-to-back is very special so I’m very grateful. Georgia have been wonderful hosts and we have really enjoyed our time here.”
New Zealand finished third following a 41-26 defeat of England in a repeat of the 2017 final played at the same venue, while the two matches in Kutaisi on Saturday saw victories for Ireland and Fiji over Italy and Georgia respectively to secure ninth and 11th place.
The penultimate day on Friday proved to be an historic one as USA recorded their first-ever win in the tournament, beating Uruguay 39-15 in Kutaisi to secure 15th place. Scotland also matched their best-ever finish of fifth – secured in 2017 when Georgia last hosted the tournament – after edging out Wales 28-21 in a thrilling encounter at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi.
Australia and Japan were the other winners on Friday, the Junior Wallabies beating Argentina 52-29 to secure seventh place and Japan coming out on top in an absorbing encounter with Spain in Kutaisi, the 34-26 victory enough to secure two wins in a single Junior World Championship for the first time.
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Final
FRANCE 5-16 SOUTH AFRICA: Junior Springboks reign supreme again with title defence
South Africa’s bid to rewrite the history books reached a glorious crescendo after they edged out France in a tense final to become the first Junior Springboks side to win back-to-back Junior World Championship titles.
The Junior Springboks have now matched France's three titles, but Cedric Laborde’s Les Bleuets deserve huge credit for a monumental effort which ultimately fell just short at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi in a final delayed 45 minutes by lightning in the area.
South Africa, who have now won 11 straight Junior World Championship matches, led only 6-0 at half-time courtesy of two penalties from fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed in what was largely an attritional affair with try-scoring opportunities at a premium and defences firmly on top.
Ahmed put South Africa ahead in the ninth minute and it said much for the desire and commitment of both teams in the damp conditions that the score remained at 3-0 until the fly-half's second penalty on the stroke of half-time
Raphael Audebert scored France’s only try in the 46th minute after Les Bleuets pounded away on South Africa’s line, gaining their reward when Baptiste Tilloles’ delightful long pass sent flanker Audebert over in the right corner.
Luka Keletaona could not convert, but France went close to a second moments later before a TMO check confirmed that Baptiste Veschambre had not grounded the ball.
The Junior Springboks secured some breathing space when centre Markus Muller burst clear with 13 minutes to go and thought they had all but wrapped up the win when Cheswill Jooste went over, only to see his try ruled out by the TMO.
Ahmed also had a try disallowed for jumping over a defender on the way to line but it didn't matter, the fly-half slotting a penalty to allow South Africa to enjoy the final minutes and then celebrate an emotional and hard-earned title success.
Third place play-off
NEW ZEALAND 41-26 ENGLAND: McLeod’s crucial second-half double helps seal third place for New Zealand
New Zealand finished the Junior World Championship on a winning note, beating England for the sixth time in seven meetings in the third place play-off at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi.
It was the first meeting between the sides since New Zealand blew England away in the 2017 final at the same venue, the 64-17 victory securing their sixth and last title in the prestigious age-grade tournament.
Second-row Finn McLeod’s crucial second-half double made certain of the victory for New Zealand, who outscored their opponents by seven tries to four.
Sam Winters charged under the posts to give England the lead but New Zealand quickly levelled through Jake Frost’s close-range score before England centre Nick Lilley and McLeod were shown yellow cards.
Frost cleverly created the space to score his second but England swiftly replied as George Marsh’s delightful offload sent Jimmy Staples over the line to make it 14-10 at half-time.
New Zealand debutant Jake Hutchings was driven over in the 45th minute before Staples and Siale Pahulu traded tries. A quick-fire double from McLeod gave New Zealand breathing space and Tyler Offiah’s late effort was mere consolation for England, who conceded again through Max Fale.
Fifth place play-off
SCOTLAND 28-21 WALES: Scotland edge out Wales despite late yellow cards
Scotland held on during a tense finale to beat familiar foes Wales and secure fifth place – emulating their highest-ever Junior World Championship finish.
They had lost 31-21 to Wales in the U20 Six Nations but outscored them in Tbilisi by four tries to three in a nail-biting encounter which saw them pushed all the way. Scotland had Matthew Fick and Ewan Caven sin-binned late on but, inspired their talismanic captain and hooker Joe Roberts, the 13 men held on for victory.
Wales began brightly and second-row Will Evans squeezed over the line before prop Jac Pritchard barrelled over to give his side a 14-0 lead. However, Scotland steadied themselves and hit back to tie the scores, prop Ollie Blyth-Lafferty touching down from point-blank range before Alex Bryden’s perfect flat pass sent centre partner Henry Kesteron charging over the line.
After the break, Roberts went over to claim his sixth try of the tournament after Wales second-row Evans was shown a yellow card but full-back Lewis Edwards then raced through the Scotland defence for a converted try.
That levelled matters at 21-21 and, after Wales lost Tom Bowen to a yellow card, Scotland regained the lead in the 64th minute when Dan Kelly dived over in the right corner. Despite losing Fick and Caven to yellow cards, they held firm for the win, thanks in part to Wales losing the ball over the line on two occasions.
Seventh place play-off
ARGENTINA 29-52 AUSTRALIA: Junior Wallabies edge entertaining encounter to seal seventh place
Australia hooker John Greenfell scored twice on his first start of the tournament to help the Junior Wallabies seal victory in the seventh place play-off at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi on Friday.
His first-half double was the highlight of a dominant opening 40 minutes that saw Australia score five tries and establish a commanding 33-10 lead. From there they did not look back and, having shared three wins apiece in their previous six Junior World Championship meetings, Australia beat Los Pumitas for the fourth time.
Greenfell opened the scoring inside the second minute from Sam Blank’s short pass but Los Pumitas hit back through free-scoring full-back Simon Pfister.
He scored his eighth try of the tournament after taking a superb pass from fly-half Federico Serpa Laporte, but Greenfell crashed over again from a lineout and Zach Fittler scored Australia’s third before Luca Cleverley and the impressive Tom Farr-Jones got in on the act before half-time.
Toby Brial, Farr-Jones and Kingbenjamin Swerling-Finaipepe added further tries for the Junior Wallabies with second-half scores from Bautista Salinas Mallea, Nicolás Cambiasso and Tomás Canedo for Argentina.
Ninth place play-off
ITALY 26-34 IRELAND: Ireland show their class to seal ninth place
Ireland secured ninth place after beating Italy in an enthralling encounter in Kutaisi for a third win against the Azzurrini in their last four Junior World Championship meetings.
A highly-entertaining first half ended 22-14 to Ireland and they were ultimately worthy victors after outscoring Italy by five tries to four.
Italy beat Ireland in last year’s tournament on home soil en route to finishing seventh – their best-ever Junior World Championship placing. But Ireland led through captain Josh Neill’s close-range try before Italy replied when second-row Enoch Opoku Gyamfi finished off a superb break from Pietro Celi for his third try of the tournament.
Although hooker Duinn Maguire barged over for Ireland’s second try, Italy hit back again immediately when prop Erik Meroi stole his way through to score.
Winger Charlie Molony scored a third for Ireland but Italy absorbed plenty of pressure during the second half, especially after losing Jaheim Wilson to a yellow card – and they scored when Luca De Novellis dived over in the left corner. Mattia Andretti’s third conversion cut Ireland’s lead to a point but Charlie O’Shea then touched down Molony’s teasing grubber kick.
Opoku Gyamfi thought he had scored his second late on but it was disallowed for a forward pass and Ireland went over again through Sean David Walsh before Nikolaj Varotto’s last-minute consolation.
11th place play-off
GEORGIA 10-30 FIJI: Fiji seal 11th place after downing hosts Georgia
Fiji made it back-to-back wins on the Junior World Championship stage thanks to a powerful first-half display against tournament hosts Georgia at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi.
The Junior Lelos had won their previous two Junior World Championship meetings with Fiji – in 2019 and 2024 – but Andrew Tui Osborne’s side deservedly took the spoils this time around.
Fiji enjoyed a dream start when scrum-half Isikeli Bari Ratu’s exquisite long pass sent Sevuloni Rakoto Sauleirogo Satala diving over in the right corner. They scored again when Marika Koroi went over from point-blank range before Bari Ratu’s perfectly-weighted grubber kick was grounded by captain Isoa Koroinawai.
That made it 17-0 at the break and despite Fiji receiving three yellow cards in the second half – for Faimalaga Tuvalu, Francis Peters and Maleli Nauvasi – there would be no way back for Georgia. Mikheili Shioshvili and Leonide Saldadze did give the home fans something to shout about, but Savenaca Durusolo Vagadai had the final say with Fiji's fourth try late on.
13th place play-off
JAPAN 34-26 SPAIN: Japan secure back-to-back wins for first time
Japan beat Spain in the 13th place play-off after edging an ill-disciplined affair which saw seven players shown yellow cards at AIA Arena in Kutaisi. Five of those went to Los Leones U20 players and Japan capitalised to win two matches in a single Junior World Championship for the first time.
Both teams had enjoyed record wins in their 13th place semi-finals, with Japan beating USA 71-21 and Spain inflicting a 57-6 defeat on Uruguay. These results saw Japan end a run of 19 consecutive defeats at the Junior World Championship and Los Leones U20 snap a run of eight straight losses respectively.
Spain were forced into a reshuffle in the centres with Marcos López withdrawn from the side due to a ruptured ACL, but they scored an early opener through captain Marcal Carreras before Japan hit back to lead with tries from Isa Fukada and Rio Iwakura.
Spain had Ivan Farace and Telmo Fisher Obieta sent to the sin-bin but scored through Carreras again to lead 18-12 at the break.
Japan responded in the second half with tries by Shinnosuke Uchida, Yuta Otabe and Masato Hyakutake as three more second-half yellow cards proved costly for Spain, who could only muster a try through Farace.
15th place play-off
USA 39-15 URUGUAY: Perez hits treble for Uruguay before USA hit back to seal historic win
USA recovered from a sluggish start to overpower Uruguay and claim their first-ever Junior World Championship victory in the 15th place play-off in Kutaisi on Friday.
Uruguay had failed to score a try in their three previous matches in Georgia but found themselves 15-0 ahead after 33 minutes at AIA Arena following a remarkable hat-trick of close-range scores from hooker Sebastián Perez.
However, if Los Teritos were dreaming of a first-ever win in this tournament, the response was impressive from the USA as they scored on the stroke of half-time through hooker Aidan Stewart's try, the first seven of 39 unanswered points his side would score.
The USA then showed their class in the second half to secure that elusive first Junior World Championship win at the 15th attempt, number eight Papaseea Matelau and flanker Harrison Cluff tries putting Johannes Gericke’s men in control before Oliver Kirk and Liam Hall scored late on.
