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• Calabar High, Campion College win JRL U-14, U-16 titles, respectively, as schoolboy season concludes

  Rugby League Jamaica wrapped up its 13-a-side high school championships on Monday when both the U14 and U16 finals were played at Campion College.

  The games marked the first time since the Covid pandemic that the Championships have been played in full and saw over 200 student athletes participate. The Cedar Grove Academy placed teams in both finals, a remarkable achievement, seeing they had already won the U19 title last November. However, they were denied the sweep as opponents Calabar High (U14s), and Campion College (U16s) craved out narrow victories.

  In the U14 finals, Calabar were chasing their own piece of history as they sought to become the first High school team to win 5 consecutive age grade Championships. They achieved this with a narrow and hard fought 18-14 score line. The match had several lead changes and was tied 14-14 at fulltime.

  The contest was decided in overtime by Amare Anderson who scored a break away try on Calabar’s first set of six. Other scorers for the winners Jhaidan Williams with a try and finals MVP Tevez Tulloch with10 points from 2 tries and a goal. Meanwhile, for Cedar Grove, Laquan Burton, Christian Campbell and Shamar Cunningham each scored a try and Nathan Brown kicked a goal.

  Calabar coach Derone Davis said, “We are extremely proud of our performance. Cedar Grove is a very good team and played a great match, they’d beaten us in the round robin stage and so we knew we had to dig deep in the finals.  We held our composure well in the second half and overtime and it paid off, it means a lot to have one more Championship in this age grade.”

  The U16 finals was also a hotly contested affair as both Campion and Cedar Grove chased their maiden U16 National title. Campion took an early first half lead through prop Ehinome Ehikhametalor, but Cedar Grove immediately hit back through Tajay Brown. The scores remained tied until late in the second half when Ehinome crashed over for his second and decisive try, his performance cementing him as the finals MVP.

  Campion’s coach Andrew Dixon said, “The boys worked hard throughout the season, and it all came together for them. Our season was built on being able to defend well and this enabled us to overcome a very talented Cedar Grove outfit today. Overall, we are just happy to bring Campion its first U16 rugby league Championship, it means a lot to this team.”

• Wane to remain England coach despite World Cup semi-final exit

  Shaun Wane has signed a new contract with England to remain as head coach until the end of the 2025 Rugby League World Cup.

  There was disappointment for England at last year's World Cup on home soil as they lost to Samoa in golden-point extra time to exit the tournament in the semi-finals.

  Australia went on to defeat Samoa in the final, with the competition – officially the 2021 edition – having been held one year later than planned due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

  But following a thorough review, which included the Rugby Football League (RFL) consulting with senior players, former Wigan Warriors boss Wane will retain his job, with France set to host the next World Cup in 2025.

  "The RFL Board received and considered at length a detailed review of the performance of each of the England teams at RLWC2021," RFL chair Simon Johnson said.

  "No stone was left unturned in the review, which included submissions from coaches, players and staff alike.

  "The report generated a good, robust and lengthy discussion at our February board meeting. We are confident that we have the right people in place."

• Tedesco lauds 'special' Australia bond as Kangaroos triumph at Rugby League World Cup

  James Tedesco pinpointed the "special bond" within the Australia squad as the driving factor for Saturday's Rugby League World Cup triumph.

  Australia captain Tedesco crossed over for two tries, as did Latrell Mitchell, in a 30-10 victory over Samoa as the Kangaroos cruised to a 12th world crown at Old Trafford.

  The Australians have won their last 19 matches on English soil in the competition, in which they have reached every final since 1957, and Tedesco lauded the unity between his side after victory.

  "It is pretty unbelievable. This group of blokes came over here six or seven weeks ago and we've got such a special bond," he told BBC Sport.

  "COVID-19 has killed us for three years, not being able to play for our country, but we came here early and got along straight away.

  "We created that connection from the start and wanted to work hard for each other."

  Samoa missed the chance for a second-half fightback after Angus Crichton was fortunate to only be sin-binned for a high tackle on Chanel Harris-Tavita.

  Cameron Murray extended the lead despite the one-man disadvantage as late tries for Brian To'o and Stephen Crichton proved a mere consolation for Samoa, who were playing in their first World Cup final.

  Australia head coach Mal Meninga says he never had any doubts his side would hold off Samoa's advances to secure more silverware.

  "It's fantastic. It's one of those games and you sit up there," Meninga said. The first half was expectational, we did what we needed to do.

  "In the second half we scrambled well, a man down but we still scored points. It's what you do, you work for each other. I wasn't nervous, I'm confident in this footy team.

  "Defensively, we only had 12 against a Samoa side who threw everything, I was still comfortable."

  Meninga hailed the "exceptional" Tedesco as a "worthy man of the match" before praising the togetherness of his World Cup-winning side.

  "They're committed to each other. There is respect and humility for our jersey, for the opposition," he added.

  "We brought our best game tonight. We've had a long year but have been rewarded for effort tonight. What a way to finish our 2022 season."