FRANCE are the European Under 19s champions.
They topped the final table courtesy of a 48-12 win over England on Saturday evening in the closing fixture of the tournament, which took place at CREPS Font Romeu in the French Pyrenees.
Scotland, Serbia, Ukraine and Wales were also involved, with each playing three games.
Canada, Greece, Ireland and Norway contested the Shield. Greece headed the standings and will therefore be included in the European Under 19 Championship in 2028.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, July 18
FRANCE 48 ENGLAND 12
FRANCE retrieved the title from England, recovering from 12-6 down midway through the first half to close as convincing champions.
England started strongly in the clash of the unbeaten sides, with Jake Lerigo crossing after just nine seconds.
Eligh Wilkinson nipped over on 20 minutes, and added his second goal, after Giordano Ganthier Descalzi had replied for the hosts.
The outstanding Descalzi completed his hat-trick by the break, by which time Stevy Richmond and Yanis Ballet had also crossed to help forge a 26-12 interval lead for France.
It was one-way traffic in the second period, when Tom Zitter crossed twice. Ilan Boualem and Charly Martinez also popped over and Thibault Guttierez totalled six goals.
FRANCE: Leny Stacul, Stevy Richmond, Thibault Guttierez, Giordano Ganthier Descalzi, Tom Zitter, Ilan Boualem, Mathis Dumont, Leo Ricard, Charly Martinez, Adrian De la Rose, Luka Clottes, Steven Jocelyn, Joris Martignoles. Subs: Mahault Beauvilliers, Lork Lejeune, Sione Lamelangi, Yanis Ballet.
ENGLAND: Eligh Wilkinson, Ellis Holliday, Rhomen Alick, Rio Walker, Kieran Horner, Jaiden Tallantire, Billy-Joe Walker, Jack Barker, Bailey Worthington, Jake Lerigo, Kier Starkie, Zac Bennet, Connor Hall. Subs: Josh Smith, Dylan Morris, Louey Pinkerton, Rylan Templeton. 18th man (used) Austen Coates.
Referee: Lucas Seal (England)
WALES 58 SCOTLAND 28
WALES, who were 34-8 ahead at the interval, closed as comfortable winners despite Scotland enjoying parity for much of the second period.
Ten players scored a try each for Wales – Rhys Hughes, Jacob Morris, Joshua Gabrielson, Jacob Jones, Oscar Jones, Ethan Williams, Oliver Rees, Harley Smith, Josh Harding and Will Mathers – while Charlie Newton added nine goals.
Scotland, who had Max Erasmus yellow carded midway through the second period for a professional foul, replied with touchdowns for Oscar Ellicott-McCulloch, Harry Woodard, Jacob Walker, Finley Cannon (two) and Charlie Jackson, two of which Shaun Callan converted.
WALES: Ioan Herbert, Harley Smith, Evan Williams, Ethan Williams, Jacob Jones, Joshua Gabrielsen, Charlie Newton, Jacob Morris, Oliver Rees, Rhys Hughes, Josh Harding, Oscar Jones, Finlay Walker. Subs: Kyson Rees, Oliver Bellavia-Walker, James Tucker, Will Mathers.
SCOTLAND: Connor McGuinness, Callum Duncan, Shaun Callan, Harry Woodard, Ben Milnes, Oscar Ellicott-McCulloch, Finley Cannon, Jacob Walker, Isaac Maclean, Cullin Stoddart-Shannly, Charlie Jackson, Rueben Morrison, Ethan Frary. Subs: Jarrod Jones, Max Erasmus, Lucas Anderson Moore, Arran Jamieson.
Referee: Calvin Galandrin (France).
UKRAINE 54 SERBIA 36
A STUNNING seven tries by Cruz Death, plus two tries and seven goals by Zac Gedz, helped Ukraine account for Serbia in the relegation clash.
Ruslan Lipisii also nipped over for the victors while Kai Saric scored a hat-trick for Serbia and Filip Punos crossed twice. Uros Polic added a touchdown and Tyson Walker improved all six scores.
UKRAINE: Zac Gedz, Ruslan Lipisii, Daniel Olshansky, Kostiantyn Prydatko, Pavlo Pistoliuk, David Winter, Dmytro Shevchuk, Nikita Naurynskyi, Cruz Death, Nikita Korolchuk, Oleksii Harkusha, Liam Gallagher, Vladyslav Biletskyi. Subs: Anton Lukaschuck, Roman Lomonos, Hryhorii Ahulov, Ruslan Stasiuk.
SERBIA: Kai Saric, Filip Punos, Archie Wheeler, Aleksa Radojkovic, Strahinja Milankovic, Danilo Gavrilovic, Tyson Walker, Branko Nedeljkovic, Danilo Todorovic, Mateja Stojkovic, Uros Polic, Jakov Dojcinovic, Zaric Saban. Subs: Jovan Miljkovic, Milan Milovanovic, Vukasin Savic, Nikola Savic.
Referee: Andrew Pilkington (Spain).
Sunday, July 12
ENGLAND 70 UKRAINE 8
ELIGH WILKINSON led the way for England on the opening day with three first-half tries and a total of seven goals.
There was a brace apiece for Rio Walker and Zac Bennett, while other touchdowns went to Kier Starkie, Bailey Worthington, Jason Frankling, Austen Coates, Jaiden Tallantire, Jake Lerigo and Rhomen Alick.
Nikita Korolchuk scored Ukraine’s try while Anton Lukaschuck kicked two goals.
ENGLAND: Eligh Wilkinson, Jason Frankling, Rio Walker, Rhomen Alick, Austen Coates, Jaiden Tallantire, Billy Joe Towers, Jack Barker, Bailey Worthington, Jake Lerigo, Kier Starkie, Zac Bennett, Connor Hall. Subs: Joshua Smith, Louey Pinkerton, Ryan Templeton, Dylan Morris.
UKRAINE: Anton Lukaschuck, Cruz Death, David Winter, Dmytro Cherneha, Dmytro Shevchuk, Hryhorii Ahulov, Kostiantyn Prydatko, Liam Gallagher, Nikita Korolchuk, Nikita Naurynskyi, Oleksandr Vilinchuk, Oleksii Harkusha, Pavlo Pistoliuk. Subs: Roman Lomonos, Ruslan Lipisii, Vladyslav Biletskyi, Yaromyr Yaremus.
Referee: Cody Kuxmann (USA).
FRANCE 96 SCOTLAND 6
LENY STACUL grabbed four of France’s 16 tries against Scotland, whose cause wasn’t helped by the dismissal on 36 minutes of Charlie Jackson for alleged punching.
Scotland, who were 42-6 behind at the break, were limited to a try on seven minutes by Isaac Maclean – in response to Stevy Richmond’s opener – which Shaun Callan improved.
Adrian De La Rose notched a hat-trick for France and Thibault Guttierez landed 15 goals. Stevy Richmond, Joris Martignoles, Thibault Guttierez, Luka Clottes, Clement Colin, Charly Martinez, Ilan Boualem and Mahault Beauvilliers also dotted down (the latter adding a conversion) while De La Rose was yellow carded on 35 minutes for a dangerous tackle.
FRANCE: Leny Stacul, Stevy Richmond, Thibault Guttierez, Louis Tranier, Clement Colin, Ilan Boualem, Mathis Dumont, Leo Ricard, Mahault Beauvilliers, Lorik Lejeune, Adrian De La Rose, Steven Jocelyn, Joris Martignoles. Subs: Charly Martinez, Luka Clottes, Sione Pasikla Lamelangi, Yanis Ballet.
SCOTLAND: Connor McGuinness, Shaun Callan, Max Erasmus, Harry Woodard, Finlay Davies, Oscar Ellicott-McCulloch, Zack Emerson, Lucas Anderson Moore, Isaac Maclean, Arran Jamieson, Charlie Jackson, Ethan Frary, Seth Clapham. Subs: Jarrod Jones, Jacob Walker, Cullin Stoddart-Shannly, Ben Milnes.
Referee: Lucas Seal (England).
WALES 52 SERBIA 30
WALES, who were 30-12 ahead at the interval, prevailed against opponents who had three players sinbinned.
Yellow cards were shown to Nicola Savic on six minutes and Kai Saric on eight minutes – both for professional fouls – while Saric spent another ten minutes in the cooler, from 38 minutes, for unprofessional conduct.
Wales’ Jacob Morris was shown yellow ten minutes into the second period for unprofessional conduct and red with 13 minutes left for alleged punching.
Regan Preece raced over for a hat-trick for Wales while Kevan Phillips totalled 24 points from two tries and eight goals. Ethan Williams, Morris, Oliver Bellavia-Walker and Ioan Herbert claimed the Welshmen’s other touchdowns.
Tyson Walker top-scored for Serbia with 18 points from two tries and five goals while Saric, Archie Wheeler and Zaric Saban also popped in.
WALES: Ioan Herbert, Alex Richardson, Evan Rowlands, Ethan Williams, Regan Preece, Joshua Gabrielsen, Kavan Phillips, Cae Jones, Oliver Rees, Oliver Bellavia-Walker, James Tucker, Oscar Jones, Will Mathers. Subs: Kyson Rees, Jacob Morris, Rhys Hughes, Evan Williams.
SERBIA: Kai Saric, Filip Punos, Archie Wheeler, Aleksa Radojkovic, Strahinja Milankovic, Danilo Gavrilovic, Tyson Walker, Branko Nedeljkovic, Danilo Todorovic, Mateja Stojkovic, Jakov Dojcinovic, Nikola Savic, Zaric Saban. Subs: Uros Polic, Uros Rusimovic, Milan Milovanovic, Mihajlo Malesevic.
Referee: Mateo Roca (France).
Wednesday, July 15
FRANCE 106 SERBIA 6
FRANCE amassed 18 tries to just one by Serbia (claimed by Danilo Todorovic and converted by Tyson Walker in the 34th minute).
Otherwise the host country were rampant. Giordano Descalzi raced in for six tries, and Nathan Gandou scored two tries and seven goals.
Ten other players also crossed: Clement Troni, Luka Clottes, Clement Colin, Elio Cazanave, Louis Tranier, Yanis Ballet, Joris Martignoles, Lorik Lejeune, Leny Stacul and Tom Zitter. Mathis Dumont kicked ten goals.
FRANCE: Clément Colin, Leny Stacul, Jimmy Bavent, Louis Tranier, Tom Zitter, Nathan Gandou, Mathis Dumont, Clément Troni, Elio Cazanave, Teddy Cadenas, Luka Clottes, Giordano Descalzi, Yanis Ballet. Subs: Lorik Lejeune, Mahault Beauvilliers, Sione Pasikla Lamelangi, Joris Martignoles.
SERBIA: Kai Saric, Marko Conic, Archie Wheeler, Aleksa Radojkovic, Strahinja Milankovic, Danilo Gavrilovic, Tyson Walker, Milan Milovanovic, Danilo Todorovic, Mihajlo Malesevic, Uros Polic, Jakov Dojcinovic, Zaric Saban. Subs: Filip Mihajlovic, Nikola Savic, Vukasin Savic, Mateja Stojkovic.
Referee: Joseph Rago (Norway).
ENGLAND 28 WALES 16
ENGLAND recovered from 10-4 adrift at the break, and 16-4 behind early in the second half.
Wales had looked set to build on their opening victory over Serbia when Josh Harding crossed five minutes after the restart, adding to tries by Evan Rowlands and Alex Richardson, with Kavan Phillips and Charlie Newton landing a goal apiece.
But the sinbinning of Will Mathers on 51 minutes for a professional foul proved to be a turning point.
England, who had previously been limited to a Kier Starkie try, duly posted unanswered touchdowns for Rio Walker, Zac Bennet, Eligh Wilkinson, Billy-Joe Towers and Bailey Worthington, two of which Worthington converted.
Worthington, together with Wales’ Finlay Walker, was sinbinned midway through the first half for fighting.
ENGLAND: Eligh Wilkinson, Ellis Holliday, Rhomen Alick, Rio Walker, Kieran Horner, Jaiden Tallantire, Billy-Joe Towers, Harrison Dickinson, Bailey Worthington, Jake Lerigo, Kier Starkie, Zac Bennett, Connor Hall. Subs: Dylan Morris, Jack Barker, Daniel Houghton, Rylan Templeton.
WALES: Ioan Herbert, Alex Richardson, Harley Smith, Ethan Williams, Jacob Jones, Evan Williams, Charlie Newton, Cae Jones, Finlay Walker, Will Mathers, Josh Harding, Evan Rowlands, Kavan Phillips. Subs: Oli Rees, Oli Bellavia-Walker, Rhys Hughes, Reegan Preece.
Referee: Calvin Galandrin (France).
SCOTLAND 38 UKRAINE 24
SCOTLAND, who were 26-6 ahead at the interval, went on to register a comfortable victory despite an impressive display in the second period by Ukraine, who trailed 32-6 at one stage.
Shaun Callan scored two tries and four goals in the triumph, Ethan Frary also crossed twice, and Oscar Ellicott-McCulloch, Lucas Anderson Moore and Jacob Walker dotted down while Connor McGuinness improved one effort.
Ukraine’s rally involved a Ruslan Lipisii brace and tries by Cruz Death and Zac Gedz, who added four goals.
Scotland’s Finley Cannon was sinbinned on 48 minutes for a trip while Ukraine’s Hryhorii Ahulov copped a yellow card five minutes later for a dangerous tackle.
SCOTLAND: Connor McGuinness, Declan Smith, Callum Duncan, Shaun Callan, Promise Nkabi, Oscar Ellicott-McCulloch, Finley Cannon, Ollie Watkins-Smith, Jarrod Jones, Cullin Stoddart-Shannly, Rueben Morrison, Ethan Frary, Isaac Maclean. Subs: Arran Jamieson, Jacob Walker, Lucas Anderson Moore, Ben Milnes.
UKRAINE: Zac Gedz, Ruslan Lipisii, Daniel Olshansky, Pavlo Pistoliuk, Rostyslav Polulikh, David Winter, Dmytro Shevchuk, Anton Lukaschuck, Cruz Death, Nikita Korolchuk, Dmytro Cherneha, Hryhorii Ahulov, Liam Gallagher. Subs: Nikita Naurynskyi, Vladyslav Biletskyi, Oleksandr Vilinchuk, Roman Pomirchyi.
Referee: Romain Pares (France)
SHIELD
Saturday, July 18
GREECE 94 NORWAY 6
GREECE will, through topping the Shield table, feature in the European Under 19 Championship in 2028 in 2028.
Norway, who trailed 52-6 at half-time, were limited to a try and goal by Joshua Silverstone-Utheim (who scored in each of his country’s three Shield games) by way of response.
Peter Kokontis grabbed a hat-trick for the champions and there was a brace apiece for William Giovas, Peter Papoulis, Lucas Kontrafouris (who added seven goals) and Napoleon Mavrokefalos.
Other tries went to Leo Valdmanis, Jonathan Siambis, Vasilis Karageorgiou, Jack Tsokos, Bailey-Dean Latanis, Timur Agostini-Leland and Dean Tsavaris. Tsavaris added a couple of goals, and Tsokos and Alex Jelenkovic both landed a conversion.
GREECE: Bailey-Dean Latanis, Vasilis Karageorgiou, Dean Tsavaris, Jonathan Siambis, Kostas Grivas Tzimopoulos, Timur Agostini-Leland, Lukas Kontrafouris, Leo Valdmanis, Peter Kokontis, Peter Papoulis, Alex McGrath, Alex Jelenkovic, William Giovas. Subs: Jack Tsokos, Alex McGrath, Napoleon Mavrovkefalos, Rafael Macovei.
NORWAY: Filip Naparty, Joel Rohrs, Elias Gradert, William Giddings, Vetle Korre-Ostby, Joshua Silverstone-Utheim, Iver Sivertsen Lauvsnes, Odinn Numason, Tobias Andresen-Langaas, Filip Boe, Sebastian Batnes, Victor Blackburn, Valentine Mjolhus. Subs: Arian Harbas, Kristoffer Gradert, Tobias Auno, Silas Mjølhus.
Referee: Cody Kuxmann (USA)
IRELAND 44 CANADA 40
A TRY four minutes from time by Eddy McGillan, with Bobby Barton adding his sixth goal, helped Ireland edge a thriller and secure second place in the table.
Canada, who led 22-12 at the interval, had nosed ahead through Jacob Williams’ hat-trick try a couple of minutes earlier.
Aaron Corbett and Jack Brown had both crossed twice for Ireland while Finn Maguire, Ieffi Hannan and Samuel Douglas also dotted down.
Noah Bolton (twice), Rory Jago and Oliver Lenahan nipped over for the Wolverines’ other tries, with Lenahan booting six goals.
IRELAND: Finn Maguire, Ieffi Hannan, Eddy McGillan, Samuel Douglas, Aaron Corbett, Bobby Barton, Theo-Cole Cyprien, Jack Brown, Harry Knowles, Richie Whelan, Rhys Morgan, Tiernan Conway, Daniel Ridpath. Subs: Finn Maguire, Dominic Greene, Donncha Fee, Charlie Sweeney.
CANADA: Oliver Lenahan, Wyatt Klasen, Rory Jago, Michael Tsoutsis, Jacob Williams, Jack Shortis, Torin Brooks, Santiago Benavides, Thomas Haufe, Bogdan Dimitrijevic, Blake Marshall, Alex Paddle, Noah Bolton. Subs: Elliot Barton, Joshua Williams, Alex Dymock, Patricio Asomoza Estrada.
Referee: Nectarios Tsakalos (Greece).
Sunday, July 12
GREECE 38 IRELAND 22
GREECE bounced back from a 14-6 deficit to register a convincing win.
Alex McGrath, who scored Greece’s opener on 31 minutes in response to a Finn McGuire brace, added another try six minutes after the resumption and also booted five goals in an 18-point contribution.
There was, too, a brace for Jonathon Armatas, with other touchdowns going to Basil Tzitzivakos, Lucas Hanmer and Jonathan Siambis.
Joseph Gill crossed for Ireland on 34 and 53 minutes, and Bobby Barton dotted down on the hour; Jack Brown landed a goal.
GREECE: Alex McGrath, Bailey-Dean Latanis, Basili Tzitzivakos, Jack Tsokos, Jonathan Siambis, Jonathon Armatas, Kostas Grivas Tzimopoulos, Leo Valdmanis, Lucas Hanmer, Lukas Kontrafouris, Napoleon Mavrovkefalos, Peter Papoulis, Peter Kokontis. Subs: Rafael Macovei, Theodoros Tipene, Timur Agostini-Leland, Vasilis Karageorgiou.
IRELAND: Bobby Barton, Daniel Ridpath, Dominic Greene, Donncha Fee, Eddy McGillan, Ethan Whyte, Finn Maguire, Finn Mclaughlin, Harry Knowles, Ieffi Hannan, Jack Brown, Joseph Gill, Matthew Toothill. Subs: Michael Walsh, Oisin Carroll, Rhys Morgan, Richie Whelan.
Referee: Liam Breheny (England).
CANADA 46 NORWAY 32
FIVE unanswered tries between the 32nd and 46th minutes put Canada firmly in the driving seat against Norway, who had previously matched the Euro 19s debutants’ two touchdowns.
But hat-trick hero Oliver Lenahan’s last two tries, plus a Jacob Williams brace and an Asomoza Estrada effort, presented Norway with real problems.
Canada’s other tries went to Wyatt Klasen Noah Barton and Rory Jago, while Lenahan landed five goals.
Norway missed out despite a Kristoffer Gradert brace, a try and four goals for Joshue Silverstone-Utheim and touchdowns to Tobias Andresen-Langaas, Odinn Numason and William Giddings.
CANADA: Oliver Lenahan, Wyatt Klasen, Michael Tsoutsis, Jack Shortis, Jacob Williams, Rory Jago, Jack Smart, Brady Nooski, Elliot Barton, Bogdan Dimitrijevic, Tobias Mennie, Alex Paddle, Noah Bolton. Subs: Torin Brooks, Dexter Johnson, Alex Dymock, Patricio Asomoza Estrada.
NORWAY: Silas Mjølhus, Matias Tjemsland, Kristoffer Gradert, William Giddings, Filip Naparty, Joshua Silverstone-Utheim, Hakon Sivertsen Lauvsnes, Arian Harbas, Tobias Andresen-Langaas, Odinn Numason, Dag Hansen, Trygve Hansen, Theodor Eidsaune Chongdee. Subs: Tobias Auno, Filip Boe, Valentine Mjolhus, Iver Sivertsen Lauvsnes.
Referee: Craig Davies (Wales).
Wednesday, July 15
GREECE 36 CANADA 18
GREECE prepared for their final game with the title in their sights after building on an 18-10 lead at the break to deny a Canada side who lacked a cutting edge.
Oliver Lenahan, Elliot Barton, Blake Marshall and Leon Bansen crossed for Canada, for whom Lenahan landed a conversion, but Greece, whose cause was hindered by the sinbinning midway through the first half of Peter Papoulis for dangerous contact, prevailed through tries by Dean Tsavaris, Zac Papa, Lucas Hanmer (who landed four goals), Ethan Tsiamis and William Giovas, with Bailey-Dean Latanis bagging a brace in the final quarter.
GREECE: Bailey-Dean Latanis, Basili Tzitzivakos, Dean Tsavaris, Timur Agostini-Leland, Kostas Grivas Ttzimopoulos, Ethan Tsiamis, Lucas Hanmer, Peter Papoulis, Zac Papa, Peter Kokontis, Jonathan Siambis, Alex Jelenkovic, William Giovas. Subs: Ethan Tsiamis, Theodoros Tipene, Alex Mcgrath, Vasilis Karageorgiou.
CANADA: Oliver Lenahan, Jacob Williams, Jack Shortis, Michael Tsoutsis, Leon Bansen, Rory Jago, Jack Smart, Brady Nooski, Elliot Barton, Bogdan Dimitrijevic, Noah Bolton, Alex Paddle, Blake Marshall. Subs: Torin Brooks, Tobias Mennie, Alex Dymock, Patricio Asomoza Estrada.
Referee: Petar Randjelović (Serbia)
IRELAND 64 NORWAY 16
NORWAY, who were 42-0 behind at the break, lost the second period only 22-16 but, despite tries by Joshua Silverstone-Utheim, William Giddings and Hakon Silversten Lauvsnes, two of which Silversten Lauvsnes improved, had to concede second-best.
Remarkably, Norway fared better in the last 40 minutes despite having William Giddings yellow carded on the hour mark for a high tackle and Valentine Mjolhus sinbinned in the closing stages for kicking.
Ireland generally held sway with an Aaron Corbett hat-trick, two tries and seven goals for Bobby Barton and a Jack Brown brace.
Mitch Ireland, Samuel Douglas, Ethan Whyte, Donncha Fee and Joseph Gill also shot in, and Finn Maguire improved one score.
IRELAND: Finn Maguire, Ethan Whyte, Samuel Douglas, Mitch Ireland, Aaron Corbett, Bobby Barton, Michael Walsh, Wilfred Taylor, Theo-Cole Cyprien, Charlie Sweeney, Tiernan Conway, Donncha Fee, Jack Brown. Subs: Matthew Toothill, Richie Whelan, Joseph Gill, Oisin Carroll.
NORWAY: Silas Mjølhus, Matias Tjemsland, Kristoffer Gradert, William Giddings, Filip Naparty, Joshua Silverstone-Utheim, Hakon Sivertsen Lauvsnes, Arian Harbas, Tobias Auno, Odinn Numason, Dag Hansen, Trygve Hansen, Valentine Mjolhus. Subs: Tobias Andresen-Langaas, Filip Boe, Theodor Eidsaune Chongdee, Iver Sivertsen Lauvsnes.
Referee: Kemoy Whyte (Jamaica).