Kiwis sidestep their way to Las Vegas

One of the new stars of the New Zealand sevens side. Rieko Ioane. Photo: IRB

TV commentator Keith Quinn gives his thoughts on the Sevens Wellington as he travels to round five of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Las Vegas.

Following New Zealand’s victory over England at the Sevens Wellington, we caught up with TV commentator Keith Quinn who watched on at the Westpac Stadium. Quinn witnessed Gordon Tietjens’ side win 27-21 in the final and record their first Cup title of the season, and will travel with the teams to round five of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Las Vegas, where Olympic qualification continues.

Preview: Wellington Sevens

Fiji last won at the opening tournament at the Gold Coast in Australia. Photo: IRB

The fourth round of the 2014/15 Sevens World Series gets underway at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Friday, with teams vying for all-important series points.
With a third of the series gone, Round Four in Wellington continues the journey for all the participating teams as the road to Rio heats up.

At the end of the nine rounds this year, the top four teams will automatically qualify for the Olympics, with South Africa, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia currently occupying those spots.

Viriviri recalled by Fiji

Recalled Viriviri will add pace to Fiji’s side in Wellington. Photo: Planet Rugby

Fiji have recalled reigning World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Samisoni Viriviri for the Wellington leg of the World Sevens Series.
The Montpellier flyer has not featured for Fiji since moving to the 15-man game, but has struggled for game time in the Top 14.

He links up with a Fijian side that was a little out of sorts in the last two rounds of the World Sevens Series, losing the final of the Plate to the USA last time out in Port Elizabeth.

Irish returns to 7s

Brian Carney celebrates a try in Ireland’s last 7s appearance in 2009. Photo: Planet Rugby

IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora has announced that Irish Rugby will be introducing a Men’s Sevens Programme this season as part of the IRFU’s expanded Player Development Pathway.

The IRFU has entered a team in the Men’s Rugby Europe Championships that take place in Montenegro in June 2015 and will compete in Division C of that competition.

“We are starting right down at the bottom and will work our way up. The Sevens programme is part of the development pathway,” said Nucifora.

Fiji win Gold Coast title

Fiji acknowledge the crowd with the spoils of the Gold Coast Sevens win. Photo: IRB

Fiji defeated Samoa 31-24 in final of the Gold Coast Sevens to win round one of the HSBC Sevens World Series and take an early lead in the race for Olympic qualification.

Setefano Cakau scored two tries in the first half before Apisai Domolaili and Semi Kunatani saw the Fijians take a 26-0 lead.  But Samoa’s Fautua Otto scored just before half time before Lolo Lui, Siaosi Asofolau and Tila Mealoi narrowed the gap to just two points with four minutes to go.

Road to Rio 2016 kicks off for Rugby Sevens

Brazil’s men qualify automatically but the race to join them at Rio 2016 begins on the Gold Coast this weekend. Photo: IRB

International Rugby Board Chairman Bernard Lapasset has described the beginning of qualification for Rugby Sevens’ debut at the Olympic Games as an historic moment for the sport.
Rugby will return to the Olympic stage after a break of 92 years when 12 teams will compete in each of the men’s and women’s Rugby Sevens events at Rio 2016. As excitement builds within the global Rugby family, the road to Rio will begin this weekend for the world’s top male teams with the Gold Coast Sevens in Australia.

Fiji crowned Oceania sevens champion

Fiji hoists the Oceania 7s Cup after defeating New Zealand 21-5 in the final. Photo: FORU

In a pulsating men’s final New Zealand took the early lead but Fiji responded with some dazzling play to wrest back the initaitive with a converted try to make it 7-5 at half-time. Then converted tries to Vatemo Ravouvou and Fiji 400-metre sprinter Niko Verekauta broke the game apart for Fiji whose defence and all round play was too strong for New Zealand.

Fiji captain Nasoni Roko was delighted with the result, “We worked very hard this week to ensure we were ready and coach Ben Ryan has done a good job with the boys. We knew New Zealand would be very physical and they are always hard to beat. Luckily we have some good talent and in Niko we have some very fast speed out wide.”

Bach, Lapasset thrilled with Olympic debut

IOC President Thomas Bach (centre with ball), IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset (right) and two-time Olympic champion Heather Moyse (third left with ball) at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing. Photo: IOC

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has joined International Rugby Board President Bernard Lapasset and the global Rugby family in hailing the inaugural Youth Olympic Games Rugby Sevens event.

Bach was joined by a host of IOC and NOC members at a packed venue in Nanjing to see the newest Olympic sport and witness a compelling, exciting tournament with boys and girls teams from around the globe competing for the first Olympic Rugby gold medals to be awarded in 90 years.

NZ men join strongest ever Oceania Sevens

New Zealand will now come face to face with Australia in the Oceania sevens tournament to reign in the region. Photo: IRB

For the first time in the tournament’s history, the All Black Sevens are set to compete in Oceania’s regional Sevens competition.

The Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU) has announced that the 2014 Oceania Sevens will be played on 3-4 October, alongside the Noosa International Sevens on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Fiji takes out bronze medal

IOC president Thomas Bach plays with a rugby ball before the gold medal playoffs in Nanjing. Photo: Xinhua

Fiji restored some sevens rugby pride after shutting out Kenya 12-0 to clinch the bronze medal at the Nanjing Youth Olympics in China.

Alipate Qaraniqio opened the scoring for Fiji forcing himself forward under the crossbar from a penalty five metres out which was converted by Waisea Daroko to take the lead in the first half at 7-0.