FORMER Castle School pupil Mako Vunipola will return from the IRB Junior World Championship with a runners-up medal after England were beaten by New Zealand in the final.

The Saracens-bound prop started five of England’s six matches at the tournament in Italy and played the full 80 minutes of their 33-22 defeat to the Baby Blacks in Padova on Sunday.

Vunipola helped England reach their third final of the competition in four years as he played in the semi-final win over France in Treviso, but on each occasion they have lost out to New Zealand.

England took the lead after six minutes on the clock when Christian Wade scored a try, with George Ford adding the extras.

New Zealand fly half Gareth Anscombe kicked a penalty before Charles Piutau scored in the corner to give them the lead.

Both sides then exchanged penalties to make the score 13-10 in New Zealand’s favour, and the Kiwis scored their second converted try of the game just before half-time through prop Ben Tameifuna.

Anscombe scored another penalty early in the second half before Henry Thomas barged his way over the line to score a brilliant team try for England.

Wade then scored his second try but Ford missed the conversion that would have given England the lead.

An Anscombe penalty stretched New Zealand’s lead and Beauden Barrett touched down to secure their fourth successive Junior World Championship.