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28 March 2024

Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens: Fantastic Fiji romp to maiden triumph in Dubai

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By Staff

Fiji clinched the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens for the first time defeating South Africa 29-17 in a pulsating Cup final at The Sevens on Saturday night.

The Pacific Islanders turned on the style to give former England coach Ben Ryan his third triumph in Dubai.

It was a sweet triumph for the Fijians who have been five times runners-up since Dubai became an event in the HSBC Sevens World Series.

Having swept aside England on Friday night, they were overwhelming favourites going into the final after handing New Zealand their heaviest defeat 44-0 in the semifinals.

Fiji were not only dazzling in attack but were superb in defence enjoying a 19-0 lead in the first half.

Benito Masilevu set them on the way by shrugging off a few tackles to race away from the halfway to score under the posts in the second minute.

Thereafter it was a dingdong battle with both sides committing a litany of errors before Fiji surged ahead a couple of tries in quick succession.

Masilevu touched down after strongman Pio Tuwai sold a couple of dummies on the left flank while Samisoni Viriviri sneaked across almost with the restart to score an unconverted try in the right corner.

Mulevoro scored a runaway try after Osea Koliniasu stole the ball from a South African scrum to give Fiji a 24-0 advantage.

South Africa staged a fightback of sorts with Fiji being down to six men scoring a couple of tries in quick succession.

Chelsin Kolble got South Africa on the scoreboard with an unconverted try in the left corneer while Sampie Mastriet added another soon after the restart.

But Fiji sealed victory with a minute remaining with Kolinisau jinxing his way through before Leo Naiksau put the finishing touches with Mulevoro adding the extra points.

THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF

New Zealand rebounded from the hammering they received at the hands of Fiji to gain some consolation with a 17-14 win over England in the third place playoff at the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens.

New Zealand surged ahead 12-0 with two tries in quick succession through Joe Webber and Scott Curry who was put clear by Tim Mikkelson.

England hit back before the interval with a converted try by Sam Edgerly.

They swept into the lead 14-12 almost with the restart in the second half with Phil Burgess storming over the line.

Webber frittered away an opportunity to put New Zealand ahead with a chip and chase.

England defended grimly but Sherwin Stowers had other ideas breaking through before the ball changed hands swiftly for Mikkelson to hurtle himself over the line for the match winning try.

PLATE FINAL

Argentina put up a solid performance in defence to win the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens Plate final with a 21-5 win over Wales.

The Los Pumas surged in the second minute with a superb team effort with Diego Palma putting the finishing touches in the left corner.

Wales enjoyed more possession and played the more expansive rugby but failed to penetrate the Argentine defence.

Martin Chiappesoni scored a spectacular breakaway try running from the inside his half with Gaston Revol adding the extra points to give them a 14-0 advantage at the interval.

Wales finally breached the defence with two minutes remaining in the match with an unconverted try by Samuel Cross.

But Argentina sealed victory with the restart as Santiago Alvarez dashed across to score in the leftr corner.

BOWL FINAL

Australia won the Bowl title at the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens by holding off a gallant Portugal 17-12 in the final.

Portugal opened scoring with a try by Aderito Esteves after Luke Morahan was sent to the sin bin.

Australia surged ahead 7-5 with a spectaculuar corner flag try by Tom Lucas on the stroke of half time.

They enjoyed a 12-5 cushion after the interval when Morahan return to score an unconverted try.

Portugal stayed in contention with a breakway try by Carl Murray.

However, Australia sealed victory with a similar effort by Paul Asquith.

SHIELD FINAL

France bounced back to win the Shield final at Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens when they defeat Spain 28-17.

Spain led 12-0 after four minutes through tries by Jaike Carter and Iganacio Martin with Igor Genua converting one.

But France clawed back two converted tries in quick succession through Jonathan Laugel and Julien Candelon to hold a 14-12 edge at the interval.

France surged ahead 24-12 through a couple more tries by Candelon and Vincent Deniau before Spain scored a consolation try using their football skills.

CUP SEMIFINALS

Dubai favourites New Zealand and England were knocked out in the semifinals of the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens by flamboyant Fiji and clinical South Africa.

Fiji routed New Zealand 44-0 while South Africa shut out England 26-12 to set up a title showdown in the second round of the HSBC Sevens World Series at The Sevens on Saturday night.

Fiji stunned HSBC Sevens World Series leaders New Zealand by running riot in the first Cup semifinal of the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens by scoring eight unanswered tries in a 44-0 rout at The Sevens.

Nothing seemed to go right for the New Zealanders as Fiji ran amok in the first half to enjoy 29-0 advantage.

Donasio Ratubuli opened the floodgates for Fiji in the second minute after being put clear by Kunatani to touch down.

Benito Masilevu burst through to dive over in the left corner.

Fiji added a couple more almost with the restart through Kunatani and Osea Kolinisau who chipped and chase the ball to beat two defenders to the touch down.

To add insult to injury, Pio Tuwai steam rolled over the line before the interval.

New Zealand opened the second half with intent retaining possession but Fiji scored on a counter attack with Emosi Mulevori going through after a lovely back pass from Mulevoro.

A similar back pass by New Zealand resulted in another try with Waiseea Nacuqu pouncing on it while Samu Saqiwa complete the rout with their eighth try.

England thrilled the fans by scoring almost with the kickoff in just 16 seconds when Mike Ellery hared away to touch down in the right corner.

South Africa attacked relentlessly thereafter and never looked back after going ahead 7-5 with a under-the post try by Cecil Afrika after six minutes.

They surged 14-5 before the interval with scrum half Justin Geduld going over with a quickly taken penalty. Branco du Preez added the extra points.

England fought back with a converted try by Tom Mitchell.

But Werner Kok darted across in the right corner off another quickly taken penalty while Chris Dry sealed victory by scoring in the final minute of play.

INTERNATIONAL VETERANS

Scotland’s Xodus Steelers retained the International Veteran’s title with a last-gasp try against J9 legends.

Despite being cheered on by Joost van der Westhuizen, J9 were pipped in the final 17-14.

After the game, South African rugby legend van der Westhuizen, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease two years ago, was introduced to the crowd and given a guard of honour by the players of both teams.

Fiji battled into the Cup semifinals of Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens with a 26-14 win over Scotland at The Sevens on Saturday morning.

New Zealand, winners of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Gold Coast, were the first to book their semi-final place, though they were pushed hard by Argentina before completing a 26-19 victory.

Sherwin Stowers and Joe Webber tries put the All Blacks in control, but Argentina’s Ramiro Moyano but his team back in the game with a try on the stroke of half time.

The Argentinians drew level three minutes into the second half when Martin Chiappesoni touched down, and would have taken the lead, had Moyano not missed the conversion.

They led for two minutes, but another Webber try, and one from Bryce Heem, put the New Zealanders back in control, and Axel Muller’s try for Argentinal in the last seconds proved no more than a consolation.

Fiji is next up for New Zealand, after Ben Ryan’s team held off a determined challenge from Scotland in their quarter-final tie.

The Fijians led 14-0 at the break, and stretched the advantage to 21 points early in the second half when Samisoni Viriviri scored the first of two tries.

But Scotland then clawed their way back into the contest with Gregor Young and John Houston both scoring a converted try to slice the Fijian lead back to 7 points.

One converted try for Scotland would draw them level, by in the end, it was Fiji who went over, to secure a semi-final place with a 26-14 win.

South Africa swept to a 14-0 lead at half-time in the all African semifina through converted tries from Sample Mastriet and Frankie Horne with the converted tries.

But Kenya struck back quickly after the break as Felix Ayange and Oscar Ayodi scored two quick tries to cut South Africa’s advantage to two points.

Branco du Preeze scored a late try to secure South Africa a semifinal clash with England winning 21-12, while the English won the all British clash with Wales by 33 points to 12.

Wales went ahead when Ashley Evans crossed the line in the fourth minute, but England led by two points at the break thanks to Marcus Watson’s converted try.

England then took control in the second half, with Watson scoring two more tries.

HSBC Sevens World Series Results Day 2

CUP

Quarter-finals: New Zealand 26 Argentina 19; Fiji 26 Scotland 14; South Africa 19 Kenya 12; Wales 12 England 33;

Semifinals: New Zealand 0 Fiji 44; South Africa 26 England 12;

PLATE

Semifinals: Argentina 12 Scotland 5; Kenya 19 Wales 24 (aet);

Final: Argentina 21 Wales 5

BOWL

Quarter-finals: Portugal 24 Russia 7; Canada 22 Spain 12; Samoa 21 France 10; Australia 47 United States 7;

Semifinals: Portugal 33 Canada 24; Samoa 14 Australia 19;

Final: Portugal 12 Australia 17

SHIELD

Semifinals: Russia 5 Spain 17; France 19 United States 14;   

Final: Spain 17 France 28

Other finals

International Invitation Men

Samurai International 38 HFW Wailers 14

International Invitation Women

Almaty RFC Womens 36 South Africa Select 12

International Open Men

Tribe 7s 21 Wyvern Harlequins 5

International Open Women

Moody Cows 19 DSI Predators 5

International Social

Hunters 35 PROJECX WaterboysInternational Veterans 24

Xodus Steelers 17 J9 Legends 14

International Under-18s

France 7 Development 26 Mantella Blitz Bulle 0

Gulf Men's League

Jebel Ali Dragons 1 19 Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1 7

Gulf Men's Open


Unofficially Retired 36 Lanka Lions 14

Gulf Men's Social

Barasti 17 Emirates Airline Flying Muppets 19

Gulf Veterans

Doha 7 Dubai Hurricanes 24

Gulf Under 18s

Dubai College 19 Dubai English Speaking College 17

Gulf Women Trophy

JA Dragons 12 Abu Dhabi Harlequins 36

UAE National Schools Trophy

VDEC 5 STS Al Ain Wolves 33