There was double success for France in the Rugby Europe Sevens U18 Championship over the weekend in Ricany in Czechia.
The girls and the boys squads from France both won their respective tournaments and played some dazzling sevens rugby along the way.
In the girls event, the eight teams were split into two pools to start off with.
Pool A was eventually topped by Spain after they won three matches out of three while Belgium were second, Germany third and Romania fourth.
If Spain’s record of 115 points for and five against was impressive in that section, then France’s 133 points for and none against was even more so as they won three games out of three to top Pool B.
Czechia were second, Türkiye third and Poland fourth in that section.
All of that meant that Spain would play Czechia in one semi-final and France would be taking on Belgium in the other.
Spain and France both kept up their dominant form to win those ones 33-10 and 33-0 respectively to set up a mouthwatering final.
In that final, France did concede their first points in five ties, but they still came through comfortably to win 31-7.
Czechia turned on the style for the home crowd to finish third by defeating Belgium 38-7 in the Bronze Final while, after rankings games, Türkiye finished fifth, Germany sixth, Poland seventh and Romania eighth.
There were 12 teams in the boys event and it was France and Spain who made it through to this final too, but not before a number of exciting ties.
France won three out of three to top Pool A - scoring a very healthy 157 points in the process - with Portugal second, Türkiye third and Lithuania fourth.
Spain scored 117 points in their three ties to come through Pool B unbeaten at the top with Czechia, Switzerland and Ukraine behind them.
And Germany finished top of Pool C with three wins from three with Belgium, Romania and Poland behind them.
Czechia from Pool B ended up being the best second placed side to join the three pool winners in the semi-finals.
The hosts knew it was going to be tough in the last four and so it proved as France swept them aside 56-0.
Spain were pushed harder by Germany in their semi, but came through it 19-7.
France were then pushed hard by Spain in the final, but showed their quality and determination to come through the tie 21-12 and taste success.
Czechia dusted themselves down superbly well from their last four thumping to finish third by beating Germany 26-5 in the Bronze Final clash.
After rankings games, Portugal finished fifth, Belgium sixth, Romania seventh, Switzerland eighth, Ukraine ninth, Lithuania 10th, Poland 11th and Türkiye 12th.
Attention now switches to Budapest in Hungary this coming weekend when the Rugby Europe Sevens U18 Trophy for girls and boys will take place.
Then the fantastic summer of sevens continues the following weekend in Split in Croatia when the Rugby Europe Sevens Championship Series for women and men concludes.
Pictures by Martin Flousek
Written by Gary Heatly
