Scotland U20 claim World Rugby U20 Trophy with emphatic victory over USA

18 Jul 2024

Scotland U20 secured their place back in the top-flight World Rugby U20 Championship in style, dismantling USA U20 48-10 at Hive Stadium to lift the 2024 U20 Trophy.

The young Scots dominated the entire match, showcasing a powerful forward pack and clinical finishing.

Euan McVie stole the show with a hat-trick of tries, while Jerry Blyth-Lafferty added a brace and Kerr Yule crossed over late on.

Scotland started strong, earning a penalty scrum early on which they converted into a driving maul that saw McVie crash over for the opening try. Further scores followed from Johnny Ventisei and Tom Currie as Scotland took a commanding 17-0 lead into halftime.

The USA grabbed their first points of the game early in the second half with a penalty, but Scotland quickly responded with another driving maul try, this time finished by Jerry Blyth-Lafferty.

The second half became a try-scoring exhibition for Scotland. McVie added two more tries, his second coming from a well-taken high ball in the build-up, before Ollie Duncan set up Kerr Yule for a late score.

The USA finally managed a consolation try through Keelan Farrell in the dying minutes, but it was a footnote on a dominant performance by the Scots.

This victory marks a successful return to the U20 Championship for Scotland after five years. The young team will be looking to build on this momentum and compete at the highest level next year.

Full Time: Scotland 48-10 USA

Scotland U20: 15. Fergus Watson (Glasgow Warriors), 14. Finlay Doyle (Loughborough University), 13. Johnny Ventisei (Glasgow Warriors), 12. Findlay Thomson (Watsonians), 11. Geordie Gwynn (Ealing Trailfinders/Brunel University) (co-captain); 10. Andrew McLean (Boroughmuir Bears), 9. Conor McAlpine (Watsonians); 1. Robbie Deans (Edinburgh Rugby), 2. Jerry Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby), 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby), 4. Euan McVie (Edinburgh Rugby), 5. Ruaraidh Hart (Glasgow Warriors), 6. Liam McConnell (Edinburgh Rugby) (captain), 7. Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby), 8. Tom Currie (Edinburgh Rugby) (co-captain)

Replacements: 16. Seb Stephen (unattached) (on for Jerry Blyth-Lafferty 69mins), 17. Ben White (Biggar RFC) (on for Deans 58mins), 18. Jake Shearer (Ayr RFC) (on for Ollie Blyth-Lafferty 72mins), 19. Dylan Cockburn (Southern Knights/Melrose RFC) (on for Hart 52mins), 20. Ollie Duncan (Edinburgh Rugby) (on for Douglas 64mins), 21. Hector Patterson (Edinburgh Rugby) (on for McAlpine 67mins), 22. Kerr Yule (Glasgow Warriors) (on for Thomson 57mins), 23. Jack Hocking (Edinburgh Rugby) (on for McLean 50mins).

USA U20: 15. Corbin Smith,14. Jordan Vassel, 13. Dominic Besag, 12. Max Threlkeld, 11. Keelan Farrell, 10.Rand Santos, 9. Spencer Huntly, 1. Asbjorn Jones, 2. Caden Crist, 3. Asa Rosenmeier, 4. George Engels, 5. Braemar Murray, 6. Graeme Pedegana, 7. Daniel Lowther, 8. Logan Ballinger

Replacements: 16. Seth Smith, 17. Thomas Wagner, 18. Luke Schaefer, 19. Brice Muller, 20. Dylan Fortune, 21. Solomon Williams, 22. Oliver Cline, 23. Raymond Hahn