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WINNERS: Emerging IrelandRUNNERS-UP: Emerging ItalyWHEN: 13-21 JuneWHERE: Tbilisi, GeorgiaFINAL STANDINGS: 1. Emerging Ireland 2. Emerging Italy 3. Georgia 4. UruguayLEADING POINTS SCORER: Carlo Canna (Emerging Italy), 29TREBLE CHANCE: Emerging Ireland winger Andrew Conway scored a try in each of his three appearances to match the
treble he managed in the 2014 World Rugby Nations Cup-winning campaign.CARLO DROPS BY: Young fly-half Carlo Canna earned a RWC 2015 call-up by Italy on the back of his performances at the Tbilisi Cup. Canna was successful with all nine of his attempts from the tee and weighed in with two drop goals, becoming the first player to kick more than one in the tournament’s short history.SHATTERED DREAMS: Emerging Ireland captain Rhys Ruddock suffered a broken arm in their victory over Uruguay in round two that ended his hopes of making Ireland’s RWC 2015 squad. He would ultimately get a call-up to replace the injured Peter O’Mahony ahead of the quarter-final.YELLOW IS THE COLOUR: Fourteen yellow cards were handed out in 2015 – more than in the two previous editions put together. Host nation Georgia were the worst offenders with five, three of them coming in their 19-10 defeat of Uruguay.THEY SAID: “We came here with a group of young talented players and they’re delighted to have won the tournament.” Emerging Ireland head coach Allen Clarke.WINNERS: Argentina PampasRUNNERS-UP: Fiji Warriors WHEN: 10-23 MarchWHERE: Suva, FijiFINAL STANDINGS: 1. Argentina Pampas 2. Fiji Warriors 3. Canada A 4. Samoa A 5. Tonga A 6. Junior JapanLEADING POINTS SCORER: Serupepeli Vularika (Fiji Warriors), 46MAN-POWER: Argentina Pampas never looked back once
Manuel Montero’s brace had helped them to a 22-20
victory against hosts Fiji Warriors in the opening game of their title defence. Montero finished the tournament as top try scorer with four, although he drew a blank in the 17-9 win over the Warriors in the final.IN MEMORY: All six teams wore black armbands on the final day in memory of Fiji Warriors prop Bele Tabalala, who passed away during the tournament.YOUNG JAPAN’S GROWING PAINS: Junior Japan took a couple of heavy defeats to Canada A, Fiji Warriors and Tonga A on the chin before bouncing back with a much better showing in the fifth place play-off against Tonga A, scoring four tries and
conceding seven in a 43-24 defeat.TWO-POINTERS: The new-look tournament’s competitiveness was highlighted by a third of the 12 matches finishing with just two points separating the teams. Previously known as the Pacific Rugby Cup and held in a variety of locations, the 2015 edition welcomed Canada A for the first time and took place in one venue in Fiji.THEY SAID: “It was very tough and very close for the whole 80 minutes and we are happy for the win. We wanted to come here to develop our team and that is what we have done.”
Pampas captain Santiago González Iglesias.Full results at: www.worldrugby.orgFull results at: www.worldrugby.orgWORLD RUGBY
TBILISI CUP 2015WORLD RUGBY PACIFIC CHALLENGE 2015YEAR IN REVIEW 2015 WORLD RUGBY 57 TOURNAMENTS REVIEW | WORLD IN UNION