All Black Sevens book place at the Paris Olympics

THE New Zealand All Blacks Sevens triumphed at the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens, securing their fourth tournament title of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 and their first Series title in Singapore since 2005.

With this victory, they extended their lead at the top of the standings to 24 points and became the first men’s team to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

They could also secure their 14th Series title if they reach the Cup final in France next month.

The Cup final against Argentina was won by the All Blacks Sevens, with Brady Rush scoring the game-winning try.

New Zealand All Blacks Sevens head coach Clark Laidlaw expressed his satisfaction with the victory and the qualification for Paris.

Fiji beat Samoa 24-19 and took the bronze medal, despite going 19-7 behind.

The result keeps their slim hopes of winning the overall Series title alive, while Samoa missed out on Olympic qualification by just one point and a place.

Australia secured a fifth-place play-off victory against Great Britain, thereby taking the fourth and final Olympic qualification place with two tournaments left to play.

The 2023 Series is the most competitive in history with the prize of Olympic Games Paris 2024 qualification on offer for the top four women’s and men’s teams in the 2023 Series standings.

The bottom end of the men’s Series has the highest stakes this season, as the 15th ranked team will be relegated and the 12th through 14th ranked teams will face off against the Sevens Challenger Series 2023 winner for the 12th and final position on the 2024 Series at HSBC London Sevens.

Japan, with 16 points, currently hold the lowest ranking among core teams, while Canada, Kenya, Spain, and Uruguay will be competing to avoid relegation and the playoff in London.

The men’s Series has seen five different winners through the opening nine tournaments, and New Zealand sits atop the Series standings with 164 points, followed by Argentina with 140, Fiji with 130, France with 122, Australia with 112, and Samoa with 111.

After Singapore, the men’s teams will have a short break before the HSBC France Sevens on 12-14 May at Stade Ernest-Wallon.

In the women’s tournament in France, New Zealand leads the standings with 118 points, having won the last five tournaments.

Australia sits in second place with 102 points, while Ireland, Fiji, and Great Britain are all vying for the final Paris 2024 qualification spot. Rugbypass —Rugbypass