It’s an unbelievable feeling as Canadians win Sevens
SINGAPORE: Canada won their first-ever World Rugby Sevens series tournament, beating the USA 26-19 in a pulsating final in Singapore over the weekend.
The Canadians raced ahead into a 19-0 lead, but USA scored twice through pacy finisher Perry Baker, in a thrilling finale. A try in the dying moments, from Lucas Hammond, sealed the win for the Canadians.
There were a number of surprises as Fiji, South Africa and New Zealand all crashed out on at the quarter-final stages of the tournament on Sunday. Elsewhere, England won the bronze medal match at the National Stadium, after beating Australia 14-12, while Wales beat Scotland 24-12 to win the Challenge Trophy.
Speaking after the historic match, Player of the Final, Canada’s Nathan Hirayama said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling. A lot of us have been on the scene a long time and we came through some dark times, but to come away with that win was special.”
Canada coach Damian McGrath, who coached Samoa to a shock win at the Paris Sevens in 2016, and who gave his side a pep-talking following their humbling by Fiji the previous evening, was beaming.
He said: “It’s incredible. Last night we were beaten by Fiji so we had a little bit of soul searching and then we came back and beat some of the best teams in the world.
“This will show that Canadian rugby has so much to offer.”
In the quarter-finals, overall series leaders, SA’s Blitzboks, went out for the first time this season, losing 19-17 to Australia. USA continued the trend by knocking out recent Hong Kong champions Fiji 24-19, while Canada upset New Zealand 26-14.
England was the only quarter-final favourite to go through to the semifinals, albeit narrowly, with a lastgasp 13-12 victory over a sparkling Kenya.
In the semi-finals, USA destroyed Australia 40-7, while Canada beat England 19-5 to set up an unlikely, but refreshing all-North American final. Paris hosts the penultimate round of the World Rugby Sevens Series on May 13 and 14, at Stadium Jean Bouin. – African News Agency (ANA)