Ireland qualified for the semi-finals of the World Rugby Under-20 Championships with a 47-27 win over Fiji in their final group game.
The victory means Ireland finish top of Pool B, with England being held to a 22-22 draw by Australia.
Ireland players wore black armbands as a mark of respect to two St Michael’s College students who died while on holiday in Greece and to team-mate Jack Oliver after the sudden death of his father Greig in a paragliding accident in South Africa.
Three players who were students at St Michael’s College – Henry McErlean, James Nicholson and Sam Berman – started for Ireland in Tuesday’s game.
Two tries from Brian Gleeson and scores from Danny Sheahan and George Hadden gave Richie Murphy’s side a 26-12 half-time lead against the Fijians in Stellenbosch.
Two tries from captain Gus McCarthy, on as a substitute, either side of an Andrew Osborne try in the second half ensured the Irish got the win they needed to progress to the last four.
Matthew Lynch and replacement fly-half Sam Prendergast both kicked three conversions each.
England, who drew their opening Pool B game with Ireland, must now hope they can grab the best runners-up place from the three pools that would earn them a semi-final spot.
