Austria successfully defended the IFAF Europe U19 Championships with a 42-24 win in Sweden on Saturday, while five other games played over the course of the weekend decided the final placings for the 2023 tournament.

Austria’s triumph earned a sixth successive continental crown and Finland claimed the bronze medal, beating Denmark 28-22 at home at the Myyrmäki Stadium in Vantaa. It was the first time the winners of the first two tournaments played in 1992 and 1994 have medaled since finishing third in 1998.

Germany was the last nation to win a European title before Austria’s dominance, as long ago as 2008, and took fifth place with a 41-12 win at home to Italy.

There were two road wins during the closing weekend of the 2023 competition, the first of which came at the Butts Arena in Coventry where France triumphed 21-7 over Great Britain to finish seventh overall. The other away win came in Belgium where visitors Switzerland edged their hosts 19-14 in the battle for eleventh place. Ninth place finishers were Czechia, who saw off the challenge of Spain by a score of 34-21.

2023 IFAF Europe U19 Championships

Championship Game Sweden 24 Austria 42 

Bronze Medal Game Finland 28 Denmark 22 

Fifth Place Game Germany 41 Italy 12 

Seventh Place Game Great Britain 7 France 21

Ninth Place Game Czechia 34 Spain 21

Eleventh Place Game Belgium 14 Switzerland 19

Photo: Lea Wohlfahrt