Hamilton Boys’ crowned rugby youth champions

Hamilton Boys’ 1st XV have narrowly beaten South Africa to win the Sanix World Youth Rugby Tournament in Fukuoka, Japan.

An undefeated HBHS won 15-11, clinching victory in the dying stages of yesterday’s game.

It is the third time in four years the school has been crowned the Sanix champions.

Sevu Reece, who scored a try, kicked the conversion and a penalty all in the first half, was the star player.

“What a hero,” team manager Barbara Clark said.

Down 11-10 with two minutes to play, Viliami Tuipulotu scored an unconverted try in the corner.

South Africa kicked off and immediately knocked it on with seconds to spare, securing the win for the Hamilton boys.

A team member who asked to be identified only as Number 18 said leading up to the final, HBHS’s meeting room had started to resemble a scene from Shortland Street as the number of injuries suffered in their semi-final game against Japan’s Tokai University Gyosei High School mounted.

He said while the team might have been “battered and bruised”, they knew they would give everything they had in the final.

“We knew we needed to minimise their lineout drive chances and let our backs loose on them,” Number 18 said.

The team is currently celebrating their win in Japan and return to New Zealand on Thursday.

“We are having a team BBQ with all the parents and supporters,” said Clark.

“Everyone is so excited.”