Paarl Boys' High suffered a 15-11 loss to Hamilton Boys' High in the final of the World Rugby Youth tournament in Japan.

Boishaai were aiming to become the third South African team to win the event, after Grey College and Glenwood, while Hamilton were gunning for their third title.

Both finalists were undefeated and the stage was set for a titanic battle on Monday. Paarl faced the haka before kick-off, and once the decider got underway, it was all Hamilton.

Paarl Boys' trailed 10-5 at half-time before two penalties put them 11-10 ahead. But with seconds left on the clock, Hamilton snatched victory with an unconverted try to be crowned champions.

Boishaai blew away Australia's St Edmund's College 66-0 in the quarter-finals before defeating France's Lycée Louis de Foix 38-5 in their semi-final.

In the earlier rounds of the tournament, they beat Tokai Uni Gyosi (Japan), Chikushi HS (Japan) and Puncheonbuk (Korea).

Photo: Paarl Boys' High