Samoa claim JWRT crown

Samoa have defeated Japan  31-24 to claim the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2011 crown and with it, qualification to the IRB Junior World Championship 2012.

Samoa full back Peter Schuster’s try deep into added time proved the difference in an enthralling final that Japan had led 17-0 midway through the first half.

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A sellout crowd at the Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia were treated to a fitting climax to an outstanding competition, having earlier seen the home team defeat Uruguay 20-15 to claim third place overall.

In the first match of the day at the Avchala Stadium, Canada’s Jeff Hassler took his tournament try tally to seven with three more in his team’s 49-24 win over Russia, leaving Canada in fifth overall.

At Shevardeni Stadium, a last-gasp try from Zimbabwe’s Takudzwa Mandiwanza was not enough to claw his side ahead of USA. USA prevailed 30-29 to secure seventh place in the tournament.