Highlights | Hong Kong 7s Day 3
Photo:World Rugby / Martin Seras Lima
For the fourth time in the previous five years Fiji won the Hong Kong Sevens after beating New Zealand 21-7 in the final. New Zealand started well into the match with an early try by PJ Ahki and a conversion through Kaka. However three converted tries by Fiji were enough to bag the third tournament win this season.
The cup win further cements Fiji’s pole position in the series. They are now five points ahead of New Zealand (123) and six points clear of South Africa (122). In fourth position sits Australia with 105 points. The Aussies lost in a dramatic third place play-off final against South Africa 14-12.
Elsewhere in the competition England beat USA to take the plate, Argentina beat Scotland to the bowl and Russia overcame Canada to lift the plate.
Photo: World Rugby / Martin Seras Lima
The qualifying tournament of the Hong Kong 7s was won in an all Asian final by Japan. The Brave Blossoms beat hosts Hong Kong 14-24 and will become the 16th core team in next year’s season. Earlier in the semi-finals Hong Kong beat Germany 17-7 and Zimbabwe lost 22-0 against Japan.
Japan now qualified for the Olympics in Rio as well as next year’s World Sevens Series. Lomano Lemeki who scored a hat trick in the final said afterwards: "We've qualified for the Olympics already and we really didn't want to be going to the Olympics without being on the series next season, so we're delighted to have won here, it means a lot".
Photo: World Rugby / Mike Lee @ KLC Fotos
8000 miles away from Hong Kong the third round of the World Women’s Sevens Series were played in Atlanta.
Australia took a big step closer to securing the series’ title after beating rivals New Zealand in the final 24-19.Tim Walsh's team now won three successive tournaments and are 14 points ahead of New Zealand (46). England, currently in fourth position beat third-placed Canada 26-14 in the Bronze final.
The penultimate tournament of the series will be in Langford, Canada next weekend.
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Hong Kong 7s | Results
Hong Kong 7s Qualifier | Results
Atlanta 7s | Results
HSBC World Sevens Series | Standings
HSBC Women's Sevens Series | Standings