New Zealand Dominates Dubai Sevens, Fiji Finishes Third and Fourth

The Dubai Sevens concluded with New Zealand claiming both the men’s and women’s tournament titles, while Fiji’s teams finished in third and fourth place respectively. The men’s team lost a closely contested semifinal to New Zealand, 24-21, but bounced back to defeat France 24-7 in the third-place playoff. The Fijiana team, on the other hand, fell short against Australia in their semifinal, losing 31-10, and subsequently lost to Japan 22-12 in the battle for third place.

The results mean that Fiji remains competitive heading into the next round of the HSBC Sevens Series, which will take place in Cape Town this coming weekend. New Zealand’s victories mark a significant achievement, as they managed to secure their first tournament titles since 2024.

In the women’s final, New Zealand faced off against Australia, the defending champions, and emerged victorious with a score of 29-14. Key try-scorers for New Zealand included Stacey Waaka, Kelsey Teneti, Jorja Miller, who contributed two tries, and Risi Pouri-Lane. Australia’s efforts saw Tia Hinds scoring twice, but it was not enough to overcome New Zealand’s strong performance.

The men’s final showcased a thrilling encounter between New Zealand and Australia, with the Kiwis clinching a narrow victory at 26-22. The match featured a relentless back-and-forth as Australia put pressure on their rivals. New Zealand’s success was supported by tries from Dylan Collier, Akuila Rokolisoa, Sione Molia, and substitute Jayden Keelan.

Fiji’s journey in the tournament included a dramatic semifinal match against New Zealand, which turned out to be a nail-biter. The Fijians initially took the lead with a try from Viwa Naduvalo, but New Zealand responded quickly. Akuila Rarokolisoa, a player of Fijian heritage, and Bradey Rush put New Zealand ahead 14-7 at halftime. The Kiwis extended their lead to 19-7 with another try, but Naduvalo’s second score narrowed the gap.

As the match approached its conclusion, Fiji took a brief lead at 21-19, thanks to a remarkable effort from Waisea Nacuqu. Unfortunately, with only a minute remaining, Rob Rush scored the decisive try for New Zealand, sealing their place in the final and sending Fiji to the third-place playoff. Adding to the challenges, Fiji faced the setback of losing player Ilikimi Vunaki after receiving a red card during the semifinal, which diminished their effectiveness on the field.

Reflecting on their performance, Fiji’s teams demonstrated resilience despite falling short of their goals. Their top-four finishes in Dubai underscore the potential they bring to the upcoming tournaments. The attention now shifts to the Cape Town tournament, where both teams will aim to improve and contend for the championship once again.