Strong finish to secure ‘24 Olympic spots
The Fiji Airways Fiji men’s rugby sevens team needs to finish strongly in the final two tournaments of the 2022/23 HSBC World Sevens Series, if they are to be the second best qualifier to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The Ben Gollings coached-side is in third spot of the series standing with 130 points while Argentina is in second spot with 140 and New Zealand with 164 has sealed their spot at the Olympic Games.
The next tournament is the France Sevens in Toulouse, on May 12-14 followed by the London tournament on May 20-21.
At the Singapore tournament, the Fijians finished third after coming from behind to beat Samoa 24-19.
“My heart’s taken a hammering this week,” Gollings told World Rugby.
“Credit to the boys, they stuck at it. We controlled it a lot better, we got the energy going at the end and got the victory we needed.
“It’s key to get points in this crazy series we’re in at the moment.”
Samoa who had beaten Fiji 28-7 on day one had looked set to win a first series bronze medal final since Port Elizabeth in December 2013 when Vaa Apelu Maliko helped inspire his side into a 12-point lead.
However, tries from Iowane Teba and Joseva Talacolo levelled the scores before Tuna Tuitama received a late yellow card and Terio Tamani took full advantage, scoring his second try of the match to confirm Fiji’s win.
The result maintains Fiji’s slim hopes of winning the overall series title while Samoa– who has now lost 10 successive bronze medal finals– are one point and a place outside of the Olympic qualification spots.
New Zealand leads the standings with 24 points difference with Argentina.
With a maximum of 42 available in Toulouse and London, it means the Kiwis would tie up the overall series title if they reach the Cup final in France.
Also, at the France tournament, will be the final round of the women’s series.
Already, New Zealand, Australia and USA have secured their spot at the Olympic Games along with France who is the host nation.
The chase for the fourth spot is a tussle between Ireland who has 64 points and the Fiji Airways Fijiana sevens side who has 62 with Great Britain behind them with 60.