Fiji take rugby gold at the Games

    Posted at 26th July 2009 / 19:04

    This of course is a headline you well may read in 2016 when rugby hopefully makes its return to the Olympics. But it is also the latest news from the World Games - the Olympics little sister for sports that are not included (yet).

    In Chinese Taipei, Fiji beat surprise finalists Portugal 43-10 and successfully defended their World Games title in front of a capacity crowd.

    The two day tournament in Kaohsiung was watched by 39 000 passionate fans which proved yet again the attraction Sevens rugby has in the Games format.

    Portugal who had bounced back from a disappointing 7th place in the European Sevens Championships two weeks ago caused an upset and were back to the form that saw them crowned Euro Champs in 2008, when they beat Argentina in the semi finals.

    The other semi final was an ever intense clash of old rivals - Fiji locking horns with the Springboks. The last time the teams met was in the Edinburgh Sevens final, where Fiji got the better of the 2009 World Series winners from South Africa. The islanders who had also defeated the Boks in the 2005 World Games final came out on top again in a 21-7 victory, which paved their way to the title.

    The Boks did however clinch the bronze medal against Argentina with captain Mpho Mbiyozo - who is one of the supporters of olympic-rugby.org (signature number 8) among their try scorers.

    The electric atmosphere aside, the fact that underdogs Portugal and Fiji were in the finals couldn't have been a better advertisement for Sevens rugby on a world and hopefully soon Olympic stage.

    Final:

    Fiji 43-10 Portugal

    Bronze medal match: South Africa 17-0 Argentina

    5th Place: Chinese Taipei 19-21 USA

    7th Place: Hong Kong 5-19 Japan

    Semi finals:

    South Africa 7-21 Fiji

    Portugal 19-12 Argentina

    Quarter finals results:

    South Africa 39-0 Hong Kong

    Chinese Taipei 5-28 Fiji

    Japan 0-17 Portugal

    Argentina 19-12 USA

    Positional Play-offs:

    Hong Kong 12-17 Chinese Taipei

    Japan 24-29 USA

    Day 1 results:

    Pool A

    South Africa 29-0 Chinese Taipei

    USA 7-22 Portugal

    South Africa 7-5 Portugal

    USA 17-22 Chinese Taipei

    South Africa 26-7 USA

    Portugal - Chinese Taipei

    Pool B

    Fiji 26-10 Hong Kong

    Argentina 15-5 Japan

    Fiji 19-10 Japan

    Argentina 31-0 Hong Kong

    Fiji 7-17 Argentina

    Japan 20-5 Hong Kong

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