Georgia qualified for IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2015 after a 44-14 victory over Portugal in the final of the European Under-19 Championship in Lisbon on Saturday.

Hooker Badri Alkhazashvili and Beka Gorgadze both grabbed a brace of tries apiece as the junior Lelos marched to their third Under-19 title in four years.

Georgia's qualification takes the number of confirmed teams at next year's Trophy to seven. They will join hosts Portugal, Oceania representatives Tonga, African champions Namibia, Asian champions Hong Kong, former champions Uruguay and Fiji, the side relegated from the IRB Junior World Championship in 2014. The remaining place will be filled by the North American qualifier next year.

Georgia silenced the local crowd by racing into a 20-0 lead, Alkhazashvili and Gorgadze crossing for their first scores while fly half Revaz Jintchvelashvili kicked 10 points.

Portugal pulled seven points back to trail 20-7 at the break, but Alkhazashvili and Gorgadze completed their try doubles not long after the re-start to put the result beyond any doubt.

The home side then hit back with their second try of the match, but winger Ioseb Kikvadze and lock Otar Giorgadze added further tries for Georgia who can now look forward to competing in the Trophy again after a one-year absence. Georgia finished a creditable fourth when the tournament was held in Salt Lake City, USA in 2012.

In the placing finals, Spain recovered from a four-point half-time deficit to beat Russia 40-23 and claim third place. Meanwhile, a strong second-half showing saw Netherlands beat Belgium 27-0 to finish fifth, while Romania avoided the wooden spoon after a nine-try, 64-8 win against Poland.

Rugby Europe Under 19 Championship

Results 

26/10/14 Georgia 55-3 Netherlands
26/10/14 Portugal 38-5 Belgium
26/10/14 Spain 24-13 Romania
26/10/14 Russia 48-15 Poland

29/10/14 Belgium 13-10 Romania
29/10/14 Netherlands 18-17 Poland
29/10/14 Portugal 12-8 Spain
29/10/14 Georgia 41-5 Russia

Final: Georgia 44-14 Portugal
3rd place play-off: Russia 23-40 Spain
5th place play-off: Netherlands 27-0 Belgium
7th place play-off: Poland 8-64 Romania

Rugby Europe Under 18

25/10/14 Portugal 31-3 Romania
28/10/14 Russia 37-12 Romania 
31/10/14 Portugal 37-10 Russia