Wales teams lose deaf rugby titles as England shine

Welsh women's team standing in front of the rugby field holding two Welsh flags and one Wales Cymru rugby union Deaf flag. The players in the photo are Kathryn Stevenson, Niamh Chapman, Kirsten Hicks, Kristy Hopkins, Paige Randall, Kim Boaler, Theo Rushton, Hannah Thomas, Chelsea Watkins, Carla Williams and Nadia Strange.Image source, Kathryn Stevenson
Image caption,

England won the men's championship and Australia won the women's championship

ByIzemrasen Alahyan
BBC Sport Wales
  • Published

England's men beat holders Wales to claim the World Deaf Rugby Sevens Championships title, while England women finished runners-up having also beaten defending champions Wales on their way to the final in Tokyo, Japan.

In the third edition of the tournament, England dominated Australia 45-5 in the men's final to take the title. The outcome was reversed in the women's finale, won 31-14 by Australia.

Wales men saw hopes of a third successive title end in a 19-12 semi-final defeat by England, before losing out 25-7 to Fiji for third place.

England women beat Wales 25-12 at the same stage before succumbing to the Aussies, but Wales women beat their Fijian rivals 32-12 to end their tournament on a positive note as they finished third.