The HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens returned to the National Stadium at Singapore Sports Hub in style as the world’s best rugby sevens teams put up thrilling displays in front of a sold-out crowd over two days. The April 9-10 event culminated in 2018 Singapore Sevens champions Fiji defeating 2020 Series champions New Zealand 28-17 in the final after the South Africa’s sevens winning streak ended on the first day.
Finals day highlights:
Sensational Fiji claim HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens title on Series return
• Olympic champions Fiji overcome New Zealand 28-17 in a pulsating final to claim the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens title
• Australia beat Ireland 21-19 to clinch bronze medal and remain in contention for the 2022 Series title
• South Africa remain Series leaders with 98 points, ahead of Australia and Argentina tied second on 83 points
• All 16 men’s teams move on to Vancouver for the HSBC Canada Sevens on 16-17 April, the women’s Series returns to action in Langford, Canada on 30 April to 1 May
First day highlights:
• USA’s Perry Baker scores last gasp try to bring South Africa’s incredible 36 match winning streak to an end
• Australia, New Zealand and the USA top their pools with perfect win records on day one of the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens
• Fiji, New Zealand and Samoa all qualify for quarter-finals on first Series appearances of 2022
• Quarter-final line-up: Australia v Argentina, Fiji v South Africa, New Zealand v Samoa, USA v Ireland
• Finals day kicks off with England v Wales at 11:00 local time (GMT+8), the gold medal match is at 19:28 local time.
Finals day summary:
Fiji returned to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in style with a stunning victory in Singapore. The Olympic champions overcame rivals New Zealand 28-17 in a pulsating final to claim their first Series title since Sydney in January 2020.
New Zealand go away with a worthy silver medal from their first outing of the 2022 Series while Australia beat an impressive Ireland 21-19 to clinch a hard fought bronze medal and remain in contention for the 2022 Series title.
Prior to Singapore, South Africa had won all four rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 to date – and six in total in a row – but in Singapore’s National Stadium it was to be Fiji’s day.
First day summary:
USA, South Africa, Australia, Samoa, New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and Ireland have made it through to Sunday’s Cup quarter-finals in what promises to be another outstanding day of world class action at the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens.
In the last game of the day in Pool A, USA speedster Perry Baker scored in the final seconds to end South Africa’s incredible winning streak of 36 matches stretching back to last season.
Australia, New Zealand and the USA topped their pools with perfect win records on day one of the competition. While Olympic champions Fiji and fellow pacific islanders Samoa also qualified for the quarter-finals on their first Series appearances of the year.
First day full report:
USA’s winning try was set-up by a superb offload by Dmontae Noble and Perry Baker went over with the clock in the red to see his side come out on top 12-7 and bring to an end the second longest winning streak in Series history.
Earlier on Saturday Ireland defeated Fiji for the first time ever after two Jordan Conroy tries and an excellent individual score from Terry Kennedy sealed a 21-12 victory for the Irish.
Fiji bounced back to win their next two matches, a scintillating 26-19 victory over France, followed by a 62-0 thrashing of a tired Japan, Fiji setting their new record Series winning margin by running in ten unanswered tries and making a statement that they are back in business after missing the last two rounds.
Having seen their incredible 36-match unbeaten run ended on Saturday evening by the USA in the pool stage, the Series leaders South Africa lost again on Sunday to Fiji in the Cup quarter-finals and then to Argentina in the fifth place semi-final. Argentina went on to beat the USA 42-24 in a highly entertaining fifth place play-off.
For rugby sevens fans it was exciting to see 2020 Series title winners New Zealand get their Series campaign underway, winning three from three to top Pool B and looking like they had never been away.
Australia were in impressive form to win pool C with a trio of victories, overcoming Samoa 26-17, before beating Spain 28-12 and putting an under-par England to the sword by a 40-0 scoreline.
South Africa will be looking to recover from Saturday’s defeat as they face Fiji in a mouthwatering quarter-final clash on Sunday and they will be aiming to repeat their title winning performance the last time Singapore hosted the Series in 2019.
Finals day full report:
Fiji’s start to 2022 had not been so strong and they had to miss rounds three and four in Spain, but here they showed they are back in business.
In a repeat of the Tokyo Olympic final, which Fiji won 27-12 last year, matches between Fiji and New Zealand are often classics and today’s final did not disappoint.
Vuiviawa Naduvalo scored his ninth try of the weekend after two minutes to give Fiji the lead in this one with Kaminieli Rasaku converting. Waisea Nacuqu then scored – and converted – Fiji’s second try and they had a healthy 14-0 lead. Just before the break, Joseva Talacolo scored Fiji’s third try, converted by Rasaku, and it got worse for New Zealand as Leroy Carter was yellow carded.
New Zealand needed the first try in the second half to give themselves any hope and a score came from Regan Ware, but it was not converted. With Jerry Tuwai pulling the strings, Fiji’s fourth try came through Naduvalo, his 10 th of an amazing two days. Rasaku converted.
A Moses Leo try – converted by Akuila Rokolisoa – and then an unconverted effort from Caleb Tangitau for New Zealand made the final score 28-17.
Fiji captain Tevita Daugunu said: “It was a very good final. We knew we had to keep the ball away from New Zealand and for most of this final we did just that.
All photo credits to HSBC Rugby Sevens Singapore and afflicted companies.