Global Partners
Global Partners
label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text
Listen Live
  • Get Tickets
  • Teams & Qualifying
  • Video
  • News
  • Get Tickets
  • Teams & Qualifying
  • Video
  • News
  • Venue
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ Tickets
  • About RWC Sevens
  • Media
  • Contact Us
World Rugby
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
  • About RWC Sevens
  • Media
  • Contact Us
Latest News
Andy Vilk, head coach of Italy men's sevens
4 min read

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Italy men’s sevens team seeks return to the big stage

The European men's qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 is on the horizon with the prize of four tickets to Cape Town, South Africa at stake in July.

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Thu 19 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
Olympics
Monday 19 July, 2021
4 min read

Fiji winner’s journey at Rio 2016

We take a look back to how the great entertainers of rugby sevens won Olympic gold.
  • label.share.via_facebook_messenger
  • label.share.via_whatsapp
  • label.share.via_facebook
  • label.share.via_twitter
  • label.share.via_copy
    URL Copied

To understand how Fiji became the first-ever Olympic rugby sevens champions you have to go back to when Ben Ryan was first appointed as head coach in 2013.

Ryan, the former England Sevens head coach, inherited a wonderfully talented bunch of players that had not delivered on their potential as a group.

In his best-selling book, Sevens Heaven, Ryan describes how he marvelled at the skills and physiques of players who had “a conjurer’s sleight of hand on a bulldozer’s chassis.”

But discipline, defence and fitness were identified by Ryan as key work-ons and he set about making them fitter and faster.

Ryan also ignored the opinion of others and selected Osea Kolinisau as his captain in what proved to be an inspired move.

@RugbyFJI_ We loved having Ben Ryan on the show this week to explain rugby to #Olympics fans -- looking forward to discussing his book and watching Fiji defend their 🥇 at #Tokyo2020! https://t.co/tas6yJeRt5

— Keep the Flame Alive (@flamealivepod) June 18, 2021

“I realised it would be madness to try and change the way they played, but I realised too, that if I could add a framework, to make them consistently brilliant rather than intermittently outstanding, and they got fitter and faster, and I put in selection strategies that weren’t just based on who you knew and which province you came from, as rumours said they were, I could make a difference,” Ryan wrote.

And what a difference he made. With back-to-back World Rugby Sevens Series titles in the bag in 2015 and 2016, Ryan’s methods had paid off and Fiji entered the Olympic Games as top seeds.

Fiji and the two other favourites, South Africa and New Zealand, avoided each other in the draw for the Olympics in 2016, with the Pacific Islanders paired instead in Pool A with three teams from the Americas – USA, Argentina and hosts Brazil.

USA and Argentina, who achieved sixth and fifth place on the Series, were more than capable of making a big impression on the tournament but it was Brazil who provided Fiji with their first opposition.

Sevens. It’s a state of mind.

This is #HowWeSevens 🔥#RoadToTokyo pic.twitter.com/A9tEpKBFe9

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) June 16, 2021

Pool A

Fiji 40-12 Brazil

Brazil delighted the home fans inside the Deodoro Stadium by scoring first and they were by no means out of it at half-time. However, Fiji turned on the style in the second half and Jasa Veremalua and Josua Tuisova helped themselves to a brace of tries apiece.

Fiji 21-14 Argentina

Tuisova doubled his tally from the first game and Kitione Taliga also scored twice in a game that was on a knife-edge throughout.

Argentina’s physicality caused Fiji problems and Los Pumas Sevens led 14-7 with less than four minutes remaining. But Taliga’s late double – the second after a brilliant offload from Tuisova – ensured Fiji came through the severest of tests.

Fiji 24-19 USA

Again, Fiji conceded first with Danny Barrett giving Mike Friday’s side a 7-0 lead, but tries from Kolinisau and Vatemo Ravouvou meant Fiji went into the half-time break holding a 12-7 advantage.

The Men’s Sevens Eagles cashed in when Kolinisau was sin-binned to take the lead for the second time but Viliame Mata and Semi Kunatani responded to put the Islanders ahead again.

NFL Super Bowl winner Nate Ebner charged down the wing to cut the deficit to five points, but Fiji held on to get the result they needed.

Medal quarter-final

Fiji 12-7 New Zealand

The two heavyweights of rugby sevens came together for the first time on the Olympic stage and Fiji’s ability to come from behind served them well again.

Despite the wet conditions, Fiji stayed true to their attacking philosophy – they know no other way – and at times it was to their undoing.

Kolinisau gave the Series champions the lead, only for Gillies Kaka to regather his own chip to score a converted try that put New Zealand 7-5 up at the break.

Fiji dominated possession but the only score of the second half came as a result of some dazzling footwork from Jerry Tuwai.

Medal semi-final

Fiji 20-5 Japan

As conquerors of New Zealand in the pool stage, Japan had already taken one scalp but could they take another?

Ravouvou scored with the game only 69 seconds old to give Fiji the lead but he then blotted his copybook by being sent to the sin-bin. Japan made the most of their man advantage with Teruya Goto powering over to tie the scores at 5-5. Then an acrobatic dive from the sensational Tuisova ensured Fiji turned around 10-5 in front.

Some sublime offloading lit up the second half and tries from Kunatani and Tuwai, the latter coming while Lomano Lemeki was in the sin-bin for Japan, secured victory.

Gold medal match

Fiji 43-7 Great Britain

Despite the enormity of the occasion and the prize at stake, Fiji were able to play at their very best and brush Team GB aside.

Fiji produced a rugby sevens masterclass to run in seven tries and live up to their billing as pre-tournament favourites.

Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama was among the capacity crowd of 10,000 to witness the onslaught of attacking rugby which began with captain Kolinisau crossing early on.

Tuwai, Veremalua, Leone Nakarawa, Ravouvou, Tuisova and Viliame Mata followed him onto the scoresheet with chants of ‘Fiji, Fiji, Fiji’ ringing out around the Deodoro Stadium.

Dan Norton ensured there would be no whitewash for Team GB, but Fiji were in complete control from the first whistle to the last.

Having brought Team GB to their knees, Fiji sank to theirs as they humbly received the gold medal – Fiji’s first-ever Olympic medal – from Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne.

What a journey!

Sign up to our newsletter below for more on Olympics rugby sevens

Trending News Show all
HSBC Canada Sevens 2022
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Marcos Moneta on his rapid rise and historic sevens season for Argentina

The Los Pumas Sevens speedster has had a year to remember by scooping up individual and team accolades, and he tells World Rugby about the journey so far and how football influenced his playing style.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 26 May, 2022
3 min read
20220525_002
3 min read

Rugby sevens

London welcomes the stars of rugby sevens

A huge crowd will welcome all 16 core teams for the penultimate round of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium on 28-29 May with all to play for in the race for the 2022 Series title

Rugby sevens

Wed 25 May, 2022
3 min read
Alex Davis England Sevens
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – London

England sevens skipper Davis: “Let’s embrace and enjoy playing at home”

Ahead of this weekend’s action in Twickenham, captain Alex Davis reveals what it’s like to step out in front of a home crowd in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – London

Tue 24 May, 2022
3 min read
20220522_150
7 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Toulouse

Fiji and New Zealand the winners after a brilliant HSBC France Sevens

Ireland reach their first ever men’s final as the women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series comes to an end for 2022 with Australia worthy winners following an outstanding season. Argentina hold a two-point lead over South Africa in the men's Series standings

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Toulouse

Sun 22 May, 2022
7 min read
HSBC France Sevens 2022 Men's
8 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Toulouse

Big names fall on dramatic day of upsets at HSBC France Sevens in Toulouse

Argentina and Australia were knocked out in the men’s quarter-finals, while Series leaders South Africa and heavyweights New Zealand failed to even make the knockout stages. Australia and New Zealand’s women impressed, while Fiji reached the final four in both events.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Toulouse

Sat 21 May, 2022
8 min read
HSBC France Sevens 2022 Men's
6 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series - Toulouse

Men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series favourites suffer shock defeats on opening day in Toulouse as women’s champions Australia continue fine form

South Africa, Australia and Argentina were all beaten on the opening day of the HSBC France Sevens men’s event, while New Zealand and Australia caught the eye with some big wins in the women’s competition

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series - Toulouse

Fri 20 May, 2022
6 min read
Rikki Swannell becomes first females to commentate on men's series
5 min read

Feature

Behind the microphone: Groundbreaker Rikki Swannell

World Rugby talks to the New Zealander about becoming the first female lead commentator on the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and her life in sports broadcasting.

Feature

Fri 20 May, 2022
5 min read
Andy Vilk, head coach of Italy men's sevens
4 min read

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Italy men’s sevens team seeks return to the big stage

The European men's qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 is on the horizon with the prize of four tickets to Cape Town, South Africa at stake in July.

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Thu 19 May, 2022
4 min read
Serevi Coaching Roadshow - HSBC Event
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fiji are in Toulouse to win: “There is still room for improvement,” says Gollings

Gold and silver medals in their last two HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series outings have Fiji feeling good ahead of French tournament

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 19 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC France Sevens 2022
4 min read

Rugby Sevens

Captains ready for lift off at HSBC France Sevens

Toulouse welcomes a full line-up of 16 men’s and 12 women’s teams for the first time in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series on 20-22 May

Rugby Sevens

Wed 18 May, 2022
4 min read
Global Partners
label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text
  • Rugby World Cup Limited © 2007 - 2022. All Rights Reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookies Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Rugby World Cup Sevens
  • World Rugby Media Zone
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語