HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2020 Japan Take Gripping Final in Montevideo　

Montevideo, Uruguay

15-16 February 2020

 

The second leg of the inaugural HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2020 was held at the Estadio Charrua in Montevideo in Uruguay from 22-13 February 2020. The competition aims to boost rugby sevens’ development across the globe.

 

The sixteen teams that competed at Montevideo were: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Portugal, Tonga, Uganda, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.

 

At Montevideo, Japan were in Pool C along with Italy, Zimbabwe and Paraguay.

 

In their pool games, Japan beat Paraguay 71-5 in their opening game, beat Italy 26-12 and then beat Zimbabwe 26-12 to top their pool with nine points from three straight wins.

 

In the quarterfinals on Sunday, Japan beat Jamaica 32-0. Later, in the semi-finals, Japan beat Chile 31-10 to progress to the final. In the decider, the Japanese side beat Uruguay 5-0 in a gripping finale to take the title. Captain Chihito Matsui was the hero after he scored the winning try in the second half of sudden-death extra-time.

 

 

After the two legs, Japan headed the standings with 39 points. Two points behind, Hong Kong finished in second place with Germany claiming third place.

 

The third and final leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2020 was to be held in Hong Kong in April. However, that is now on hold given the Novel Coronavirus situation.

 

 

Pools

Pool A	Pool B	Pool C	Pool D
Germany	Hong Kong	Japan	Tonga
Uruguay	Jamaica	Italy	Chile
Mexico	Uganda	Zimbabwe	Portugal
PNG	Brazil	Paraguay	Colombia

 

Pool C Games for Japan

Saturday, 22 February 2020

 

Match No.4: Japan 71 d Paraguay 5

Match No.12: Japan 26 d Italy 12

Match No.20: Japan 26 d Zimbabwe 12

 

 

 

Knock-out Stage Results for Japan

Sunday, 23 February 2020

 

Quarterfinals

Japan 32 d Jamaica 0

 

Semi-finals

Japan 31 d Chile 10

 

Final

Japan 5 d Uruguay 0