Pacific islanders dominate Hong Kong 7s 'dream team'

Pacific island players dominated the HSBC Hong Kong Sevens ‘Dream Team’ after a historic weekend in the code’s most famous tournament.

Fiji created history by securing a fifth consecutive title in Hong Kong with a 21-7 victory over France in the Cup final at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, while USA claimed third place to maintain their lead in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings with three rounds remaining.

Unsurprisingly Fiji had two players in the dream team: Meli Derenalagi and Jerry Tuwai, while Samoa’s Tofatu Solia and Johnny Vaili made the cut.

France also boasted a pair in the seven: Gabin Villiere and Tavite Veredamu; while rugby’s fastest man, Carlin Isles, was the lone American in the team.

The @HSBC_Sport Dream Team for #HK7s is:

Tofatu Solia 🇼🇸
Tavite Veredamu 🇫🇷
Meli Derenalagi 🇫🇯
Jerry Tuwai 🇫🇯
Gabin Villiere 🇫🇷
Carlin Isles 🇺🇸
Johnny Vaili 🇼🇸 pic.twitter.com/BVKN9mS4is

— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) April 7, 2019

Fiji created history by securing a fifth consecutive title in Hong Kong with a 21-7 victory over France in the Cup final at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, while USA claimed third place to maintain their lead in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings with three rounds remaining.

Over the course of three scintillating days of action played out in front of over 100,000 fans at the Hong Kong Stadium, Gareth Baber’s side enthralled the crowd as they achieved something that no other nation has ever done.

With just three full rounds to go on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019, the tournament victory means that Fiji jump ahead of New Zealand in the world series standings and sit in second.

The USA are on top with 130 points while South Africa are fourth on 99 points, nine ahead of their chasers England in fifth.

At the end of all ten rounds of this year’s world series, the top four teams will qualify their places at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Japan are the only side currently qualified due to automatic qualification as the host nation.