# 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship

The International Rugby Board (IRB) awarded the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship to the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Ulster branch hosted it. The Tournament, which took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland from 4–21 April, was split into two divisions of twelve teams. Division A games took place in Belfast at Belfast Harlequins' Deramore Park, Ulster Rugby's Ravenhill Stadium, and Cooke RFC/Instonians' Shaw's Bridge complex. Division B games were held in Queen's University of Belfast's The Dub complex and Malone RFC's Gibson Park in Belfast, and Bangor RFC's Upritchard Park in Bangor.
Defending champion and top seed Australia began its title defence against Ireland on 5 April as part of a Round One double-header at Ravenhill that also included number three seed New Zealand against France.
The seedings of all teams in Division A and the top six teams in Division B were based on the final standings at the 2006 Tournament. Seeds 7 – 12 inclusive in Division B represented teams who had qualified for 2007 via regional tournaments and their seeding was drawn randomly. All 24 participating teams were confirmed in January 2007.
This was the final Under 19 World Championship. The IRB decided to fold its under-19 and under-21 world championships into a two-tiered under-20 tournament structure starting in 2008. The top tier, the IRB Junior World Championship, will feature 16 teams, while eight teams will compete in the second-tier IRB Junior World Trophy.

## Qualification

The following 24 teams, shown by region, qualified for the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship .
| Americas  Argentina  Canada  Chile  United States  Uruguay Asia  Chinese Taipei  Japan Oceania  Australia  Cook Islands  Fiji  New Zealand  Samoa  Tonga | Africa  South Africa  Zimbabwe Europe  England  France  Georgia  Ireland  Italy  Romania  Russia  Scotland  Wales |

## Match officials
### Referees

These were chosen to Officiate at the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship in Belfast, Northern Ireland from 4–21 April.
* James Bolabiu (Fiji)
* Phillip Bosch (South Africa)
* Sarah Corrigan (Australia)
* Alan Falzone (Italy)
* Jérôme Garcès (France)
* James Jones (Wales)
* David Keane (Ireland)
* Javier Mancuso (Argentina)
* João Mourinha (Portugal)
* Neil Paterson (Scotland)
* Julian Pritchard (Australia)
* Dean Richards (England)
* Phil Smith (Canada)
* Matt Stanish (New Zealand)

### Touch judge panel

* Peter Ferguson (Ireland)
* Richard Kerr (Ireland)
* Kyosuke Toda (Japan)
* Laifaga Unasa (Samoa)
Sarah Corrigan the Australian match official created history when she took charge of the Division B match between Zimbabwe v Canada on 4 April 2007, becoming the first female to referee at an IRB 15-man tournament outside the Women's Rugby World Cup. (The first woman ever to officiate at any IRB tournament outside the Women's Rugby World Cup was American Dana Teagarden, who was referee for six matches at the 2007 USA Sevens, an event in the IRB Sevens World Series held in February 2007.)

## Pool/standings

The IRB setting for this tournament was that the matches were to be played between two pools from which the top 8 teams qualified for the Quarter finals and the team that finished at the bottom of the Division A pool was to be relegated to the Division B.
* Pool A played against Pool D
* Pool B played against Pool C
Match points were awarded on the basis of 4 points for a Win, 2 points for a draw and 0 points for a Loss. Bonus points were awarded for teams scoring 4 tries or more and to losing teams who lost be 7 points or less.

### Division A

Pool A
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | BP | TOTAL |
| Australia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 33 | 2 | 14 |
| South Africa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 75 | 27 | 2 | 10 |
| Scotland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 41 | 49 | 2 | 2 |
Pool B
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | BP | TOTAL |
| New Zealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 33 | 3 | 15 |
| Argentina | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 54 | 2 | 6 |
| Samoa | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 60 | 65 | 0 | 5 |
Pool C
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | BP | TOTAL |
| Wales | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 76 | 57 | 2 | 10 |
| England | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 61 | 0 | 8 |
| Japan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 176 | 0 | 0 |
Pool D
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | BP | TOTAL |
| France | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 39 | 44 | 0 | 8 |
| Ireland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 28 | 58 | 1 | 5 |
| Fiji | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 82 | 0 | 4 |
New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Wales qualified for the Division A semi-finals by virtue of having the highest points in the pool stage.
Pool A vs Pool D Results
| Date | Team | Score | Team | Venue |
| 5 April 2007, 17:30 | South Africa | 36–5 | Fiji | Belfast Harlequins, Belfast |
| 5 April 2007, 19:30 | Australia | 15–10 | Ireland | Ravenhill, Belfast |
| 5 April 2007, 19:30 | Scotland | 6–11 | France | Belfast Harlequins, Belfast |
| 9 April 2007, 17:30 | South Africa | 8–17 | France | Ravenhill, Belfast |
| 9 April 2007, 19:30 | Scotland | 12–13 | Ireland | Ravenhill, Belfast |
| 9 April 2007, 19:30 | Australia | 23–12 | Fiji | Shaw's Bridge, Belfast |
| 13 April 2007, 17:30 | Scotland | 23–25 | Fiji | Shaw's Bridge, Belfast |
| 13 April 2007, 19:30 | Australia | 30–11 | France | Belfast Harlequins, Belfast |
| 13 April 2007, 19:30 | South Africa | 31–5 | Ireland | Ravenhill, Belfast |
Pool B vs Pool C Results
| Date | Team | Score | Team | Venue |
| 5 April 2007, 17:30 | New Zealand | 37–14 | Wales | Ravenhill, Belfast |
| 5 April 2007, 17:30 | Argentina | 41–8 | Japan | Shaw's Bridge, Belfast |
| 5 April 2007, 19:30 | Samoa | 12–20 | England | Shaw's Bridge, Belfast |
| 9 April 2007, 17:30 | New Zealand | 107–6 | Japan | Belfast Harlequins, Belfast |
| 9 April 2007, 17:30 | Samoa | 20–33 | Wales | Shaw's Bridge, Belfast |
| 9 April 2007, 19:30 | Argentina | 15–17 | England | Belfast Harlequins, Belfast |
| 13 April 2007, 17:30 | New Zealand | 34–13 | England | Ravenhill, Belfast |
| 13 April 2007, 17:30 | Samoa | 28–12 | Japan | Belfast Harlequins, Belfast |
| 13 April 2007, 19:30 | Argentina | 0–29 | Wales | Shaw's Bridge, Belfast |

### Division B

Pool A
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | BP | TOTAL |
| Romania | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 59 | 1 | 1 |
| Russia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 63 | 1 | 1 |
| Zimbabwe | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 56 | 1 | 5 |
Pool B
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | BP | TOTAL |
| Tonga | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 114 | 19 | 3 | 11 |
| Chile | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 62 | 76 | 1 | 5 |
| Chinese Taipei | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 127 | 0 | 2 |
Pool C
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | BP | TOTAL |
| Italy | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 25 | 2 | 14 |
| Uruguay | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 90 | 61 | 1 | 9 |
| Cook Islands | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 30 | 111 | 0 | 2 |
Pool D
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | BP | TOTAL |
| Canada | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 12 | 1 | 13 |
| Georgia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 78 | 39 | 4 | 12 |
| United States | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 17 | 0 | 12 |
Italy, Canada, Georgia and the USA qualified for the Division B semi-finals by virtue of having the highest points in the pool stage.
Pool A vs Pool D Results
| Date | Team | Score | Team | Venue |
| 4 April 2007, 19:30 | Romania | 0–28 | Georgia | Bangor, Bangor |
| 4 April 2007, 19:30 | Russia | 0–6 | United States | Malone, Belfast |
| 4 April 2007, 19:30 | Zimbabwe | 0–8 | Canada | Queen's, Belfast |
| 8 April 2007, 14:30 | Romania | 10–16 | United States | Queen's, Belfast |
| 8 April 2007, 14:30 | Russia | 5–33 | Canada | Bangor, Bangor |
| 8 April 2007, 16:30 | Zimbabwe | 33–26 | Georgia | Malone, Belfast |
| 12 April 2007, 17:30 | Zimbabwe | 7–22 | United States | Queen's, Belfast |
| 12 April 2007, 19:30 | Romania | 7–15 | Canada | Bangor, Bangor |
| 12 April 2007, 19:30 | Russia | 6–24 | Georgia | Malone, Belfast |
Pool B vs Pool C Results
| Date | Team | Score | Team | Venue |
| 4 April 2007, 17:30 | Tonga | 36–5 | Uruguay | Bangor, Bangor |
| 4 April 2007, 17:30 | Chile | 29–14 | Cook Islands | Queen's, Belfast |
| 4 April 2007, 17:30 | Chinese Taipei | 6–62 | Italy | Malone, Belfast |
| 8 April 2007, 14:30 | Tonga | 72–6 | Cook Islands | Malone, Belfast |
| 8 April 2007, 16:30 | Chile | 13–32 | Italy | Bangor, Bangor |
| 8 April 2007, 16:30 | Chinese Taipei | 5–55 | Uruguay | Queen's, Belfast |
| 12 April 2007, 17:30 | Chile | 20–30 | Uruguay | Bangor, Bangor |
| 12 April 2007, 17:30 | Chinese Taipei | 10–10 | Cook Islands | Malone, Belfast |
| 12 April 2007, 19:30 | Tonga | 6–8 | Italy | Queen's, Belfast |

## Knock out phase

Using the final positions from the pool phase the knock-out round 1 matches were made on the following basis:
* Match 1 – 10th versus 11th
* Match 2 – 9th versus 12th
* Match 3 – 6th versus 7th
* Match 4 – 5th versus 8th
* Match 5 – 2nd versus 3rd (deemed a semi-final)
* Match 6 – 1st versus 4th (deemed a semi-final)
For round 2 of the knock out phase
* The loser of Match 1 plays the loser of Match 2 for 11th place
* The winner of Match 1 plays the winner of Match 2 for 9th place
* The loser of Match 3 plays the loser of Match 4 for 7th place
* The winner of Match 3 plays the winner of Match 4 for 5th place
* The loser of Match 5 plays the loser of Match 6 for 3rd place
* The winner of Match 5 plays the winner of Match 6 for 1st place (the final)

### Division A

Round 1
    Category Date Team Score Team Venue 10th v 11th 17 April 2007, 17:30  Fiji 7–11  Scotland Belfast Harlequins, Belfast 9th v 12th 17 April 2007, 19:30  Ireland 31–10  Japan Shaw's Bridge, Belfast 6th v 7th 17 April 2007, 17:30  England 31–13  Argentina Shaw's Bridge, Belfast 5th v 8th 17 April 2007, 19:30  France 25–13  Samoa Belfast Harlequins, Belfast 2nd v 3rd 17 April 2007, 17:30  Australia 18–32  South Africa Ravenhill, Belfast 1st v 4th 17 April 2007, 19:30  New Zealand 36–12  Wales Ravenhill, Belfast
Round 2 (Play-offs)
    Category Date Team Score Team Venue 11th Place Play-Off 21 April 2007, 15:30  Fiji 60–12  Japan Belfast Harlequins, Belfast 9th Place Play-Off 21 April 2007, 15:00  Scotland 0–34  Ireland Ravenhill, Belfast 7th Place Play-Off 21 April 2007, 13:30  Argentina 12–13  Samoa Shaw's Bridge, Belfast 5th Place Play-Off 21 April 2007, 15:30  England 17–43  France Shaw's Bridge, Belfast 3rd Place Play-Off 21 April 2007, 17:30  Australia 25–21  Wales Ravenhill, Belfast Final 21 April 2007, 19:30  South Africa 7–31  New Zealand Ravenhill, Belfast

### Division B

Round 1
    Category Date Team Score Team Venue 10th v 11th 16 April 2007, 17:30  Chinese Taipei 10–35  Romania Queen's, Belfast 9th v 12th 16 April 2007, 17:30  Cook Islands 14–22  Russia Malone, Belfast 6th v 7th 16 April 2007, 17:30  Uruguay 21–3  Chile Bangor, Bangor 5th v 8th 16 April 2007, 19:30  Tonga 26–11  Zimbabwe Bangor, Bangor 2nd v 3rd 16 April 2007, 19:30  Canada 19–3  Georgia Malone, Belfast 1st v 4th 16 April 2007, 19:30  Italy 31–6  United States Queen's, Belfast
Round 2 (Play-offs)
    Category Date Team Score Team Venue 11th Place Play-Off 20 April 2007, 17:30  Chinese Taipei 29–10  Cook Islands Malone, Belfast 9th Place Play-Off 20 April 2007, 17:30  Romania 20–10  Russia Queen's, Belfast 7th Place Play-Off 20 April 2007, 19:30  Chile 10–12  Zimbabwe Malone, Belfast 5th Place Play-Off 20 April 2007, 19:30  Uruguay 15–24  Tonga Queen's, Belfast 3rd Place Play-Off 20 April 2007, 18:00  Georgia 5–24  United States Bangor, Bangor Final 20 April 2007, 19:30  Canada 3–22  Italy Shaw's Bridge, Belfast

## Semi-finals

| Year | Division | Semi-Final (2nd vs 3rd) | Semi-Final (2nd vs 3rd) | Semi-Final (2nd vs 3rd) | Semi-Final (1st vs 4th) | Semi-Final (1st vs 4th) | Semi-Final (1st vs 4th) |
| Year | Division | Winner | Score | Loser | Winner | Score | Loser |
| 2007 | A | South Africa | 32–18 | Australia | New Zealand | 36–12 | Wales |
| 2007 | B | Canada | 19–3 | Georgia | Italy | 31–6 | United States |

## Finals

| Year | Division | Final | Final | Final | Third place match | Third place match | Third place match |
| Year | Division | Winner | Score | Runner-up | 3rd place | Score | 4th place |
| 2007 | A | New Zealand | 31–7 | South Africa | Australia | 25–21 | Wales |
| 2007 | B | Italy | 22–3 | Canada | United States | 24–5 | Georgia |
Therefore, New Zealand are the Under 19 Rugby World Champions for 2007 and Italy are promoted to Division A.

## Final standings

The final standings are based on the 3 pool matches plus a further 2 matches to determine standings.
    Division A Pos Division B  New Zealand 1  Italy *  South Africa 2  Canada  Australia 3  United States  Wales 4  Georgia  France 5  Tonga  England 6  Uruguay  Samoa 7  Zimbabwe #  Argentina 8  Chile #  Ireland 9  Romania #  Scotland 10  Russia #  Fiji 11  Chinese Taipei #  Japan * 12  Cook Islands #
* Japan was initially demoted to Division B and Italy promoted to Division A for future World Championships. However, with the creation of the IRB Junior World Championship, both teams competed in its inaugural edition in 2008. This event featured all teams from the 2007 Division A, plus Italy, Canada, the US, and Tonga.
# Zimbabwe, Chile, Romania, Russia, Chinese Taipei and the Cook Islands were initially relegated from Division B and had to enter regional competitions to qualify for future World Championships. This did not change with the creation of the Junior World Championship and IRB Junior World Trophy; Georgia and Uruguay were given automatic berths to the 2008 IRB Junior World Trophy, while remaining nations had to play in regional qualifying for the remaining six berths.

## Overall Stats

Overall Points :
| Pos. | Player | Country | Points |
| 1 | Leigh Halfpenny | Wales | 57 |
| 2 | Germán Albanell | Uruguay | 56 |
| 3 | Sione Toke | Tonga | 54 |
| 4 | Riccardo Bocchino | Italy | 50 |
| 5 | Trent Renata | New Zealand | 42 |
| 6 | Hamish Roberts | United States | 32 |
| 7= | Daniel Kirkpatrick | New Zealand | 37 |
| 7= | Stefan Watermeyer | South Africa | 37 |
| 9 | Mathieu Belie | France | 35 |
| 10 | Nathan Hirayama | Canada | 33 |
| 11 | Alex Goode | England | 31 |
| 12 | Kade Poki | New Zealand | 30 |
| 13 | Titi Jnr Esau | Samoa | 28 |
| 14= | Stephen McColl | Scotland | 26 |
| 14= | Eoin O'Malley | Ireland | 26 |
| 16= | Andrew Barrett | Australia | 25 |
| 16= | Alberto Chiesa | Italy | 25 |
| 16= | Francisco González | Chile | 25 |
| 16= | Bogdan Petreanu | Romania | 25 |
| 16= | Henry Speight | Fiji | 25 |