NAIROBI, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Spain are the new World Rugby Under-20 Trophy champions after a thrilling 39-32 win over Uruguay in Sunday's final in Nairobi.

Victory means the European side will be playing in the top-tier World Rugby Under-20 Championship for the first time in 2024.

But Spain got off to the worst possible start when scrum-half Pablo Perez Merono was sent to the sin bin after only 45 seconds for twice tackling a player without the ball.

Uruguay immediately took advantage when full-back Juan Carlos Canessa kicked the resulting penalty before they extended their advantage through a try from Francisco Deffemiinis.

It was looking ominous for Spain when Uruguay scored again from a kick return to open a 15-point lead against the side playing with 14 men.

However, Spain recovered with 15 players on the field to work a good try for Borja Ibanez Escalera before loose-head prop Cristian Moreno Fernandez grounded their second, with both converted by Beau Finnian Peart who found his range with the boot.

After scoring a penalty, Spain went ahead for the first time on the half-hour mark after Peart kicked home a penalty, and they extended their advantage when Escalera dotted over for his second try of the match.

Uruguay came back at the start of the second half with Canessa scoring a try, but they were soon pegged back when Spain's Gabriel Rocaries crossed for his fifth try of the tournament.

Martin Civetta kept Uruguay in the final when his converted try reduced the deficit to 31-27 to set up a grandstand finish.

Spain went 34-27 up with a penalty, but Uruguay went over for their fifth try to bring the scores back to 34-32. It was left to Pedro Hoblog to ground the final try of the afternoon to clinch the title for Spain and decide a dramatic final.

Elsewhere, Monroe Job grounded a hat-trick on his U20 debut as clinical Scotland secured third place in the U20 Trophy with a 12-try, 83-10 win over Samoa in the bronze medal match.

The home supporters inside Nairobi's Nyayo Stadium did not get the final flourish they desired after Kenya lost 64-10 to Zimbabwe in the fifth-place match.

It was the Junior Sables' biggest-ever win and highest score in the competition.

Both African teams impressed during the Pool stages, each winning one of three matches and running their other opponents close, but this was a one-sided affair dominated by the superior power and slick offloading game of Zimbabwe, who ran in 10 tries in all.

Earlier, the United States opened the final day's action at the World Rugby U20 Trophy, securing a seventh-place finish with a comfortable 47-22 win over Hong Kong, China. Enditem

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