Fallen 7s Coach Honoured In Singapore Win

Olympic champions, the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s side re­turned to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series with a stun­ning 28-17 win over New Zealand in the Cup final to claim the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens title.

Fijian captain, Tevita Daugunu, dedicated the win to all children in the country as it was Palm Sunday and also to the family of former Fi­jian 7s coach Peni Veidreyaki, who passed away recently.

“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,” Daugunu told World Rugby.

“The team stuck to the game plan perfectly and with it being Palm Sunday back home we hope this has made our family, friends and supporters happy.”

Australia beat 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 a row- but in Singapore’s National Stadium it was to be Fiji’s moment.

New Fijian winger Vuiviawa Na­duvalo, on debut, led the way with 10 tries and in the final they were too strong for New Zealand.

Fiji’s start to 2022 had not been so strong and they had to miss rounds three and four in Spain, but in Sin­gapore they showed they are back in business.

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 10th in 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.

Vancouver next

For this weekend’s Vancouver 7s in Canada, the Fijians are the top seed for Pool A alongside Perry Baker’s USA, Kenya and England.

The Clark Laidlaw- coached New Zealand team are in Pool B along with a strong Samoan side, Wales and Japan. Australia top Pool C

and they face series leaders South Africa, Spain and Canada. Ireland are in Pool D where they play Ar­gentina, France and Scotland.

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