Fiji capture Sevens World Series crown as USA enjoy breakthrough success in London
Fiji won the overall Sevens World Series crown on Sunday as the United States enjoyed a breakthrough success by taking the London Sevens title – the first time they have come out on top in a World Series Cup final.
Fiji won the overall Sevens World Series crown on Sunday as the United States enjoyed a breakthrough success by taking the London Sevens title – the first time they have come out on top in a World Series Cup final.
The Fijians came into the concluding London leg of this season's championship with 147 points in the overall standings, with South Africa second on 142.
After the teams won through on Saturday’s opening day at Twickenham to face each other in the Cup quarter-finals, that meant a Fijian victory over the Blitzboks on Sunday would secure the overall title for the Pacific Islanders.
It is an absolutely incredible feeling, I remember coming to this tournament as a boy watching from the stands hoping that I could play in it some day
Savenaca Rawaca scored two tries and captain Osea Kolinisau also crossed South Africa’s line as Fiji posted a 19-7 victory that gave them their second World Series title and first since 2006.
Their success also made Fiji the first country other than New Zealand to win the Sevens World Series since 2010.
“Thank you very much for supporting the team,” Kolinisau told the World Rugby website. “To be only the second Fijian team to win the title is a great feeling.
“We are really thankful that we have finished the series, it has been a tough journey all along.”
Sevens will make its Olympic debut next year and one of the reasons it has been included is that it is possible for non-traditional rugby nations to upset the odds in a way that rarely happens in the 15-a-side game.
