World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2020 Junior Japan Claim World Rugby Pacific Challenge Title

https://www.world.rugby/news/567284

Junior Japan overcame tournament hosts Fiji Warriors 21-12 at the ANZ Stadium in Suva on Saturday, 14 March 2020 to win the World Rugby Pacific Challenge title for the first time. After finishing runners-up to Fiji Warriors the past three years, Junior Japan claimed their inaugural crown in the event with a hard-fought win over their more fancied rivals.

Three first half penalties from flyhalf Rintaro Maruyama and a try to left wing Haruto Kida gave Junior Japan a 14-7 lead at the break, and from that point on, they were never headed. Kida scored his second five pointer ten minutes in to the second half with the conversion from Maruyama giving the visitors enough of a buffer to eventually hold on for the win.

In the earlier game in the final round of matches, Tonga A defeated Samoa A 36-10 to claim third place leaving the Samoans with the wooden spoon in 2020.

Round 3:

Tonga A 36 d Samoa A 10

Junior Japan 21 d Fiji Warriors 12

Date: Saturday, 14 March 2019

Venue: ANZ Stadium, Suva

Kick-off: 16:10 (13:10 JST)

Round 2:

Junior Japan 76 d Samoa A 3

Date: Tuesday, 10 March 2019

Venue: ANZ Stadium, Suva

Kick-off: 14:30 (11:30 JST)

Fiji Warriors 47 d Tonga A 0

Round 1:

Junior Japan 46 d Tonga A 10

Date: Friday, 6 March 2020

Venue: ANZ Stadium, Suva

Kick-off: 14:30 (11:30 JST)

Fiji Warriors 29 d Samoa A 5