Fiji’s Savenaca Rawaca sprints away from the South Africa defence to score and help his side secure the world series title.
LONDON, May 17- Fiji were crowned the 2014/15 Sevens World Series champions after beating South Africa 19-7 in the quarter-finals of the London Sevens on Sunday.
The Pacific Islanders, long renowned for their skills in the abbreviated form of the game, came into the concluding London leg of this season’s championship with 147 points in the overall standings, with South Africa second on 142.
After both sides won through to the quarter-finals on Sunday, that meant a Fijian victory over the Blitzboks at Twickenham would give them the title.
Savenaca Rawaca scored two tries and captain Osea Kolinisau also crossed South Africa’s line as Fiji posted a victory at Twickenham that gave them their second World Series title and first since 2006.
Their success also made Fiji the first country other than New Zealand to win the Sevens World Series since 2010.
“Thank you very much for supporting the team,” Kolinisau told the World Rugby website. “To be only the second Fijian team to win the title is a great feeling.
“We are really thankful that we have finished the series, it has been a tough journey all along.”
Having won four Cup titles in the previous eight rounds, Fiji will face Australia in the London semi-finals as they look to finish the season with a flourish.
Fiji, South Africa, New Zealand and England, on behalf of Great Britain, have all qualified automatically for next year’s inaugural Olympic Sevens in Rio, together with hosts Brazil, after finishing in the top four of this season’s World Series.
