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Fiji won their 5th event of the season in Paris to claim the overall 2018-19 HSBC Sevens Series title on Sunday. The deciding match came in the Cup Semi Finals against the USA where the Fijians proved a class apart, winning 33-14 to clinch top spot. It’s the fourth World Series title for Fiji, who return to the top after back-to-back titles for South Africa.
Despite the disappointment, the USA celebrates their best ever finish on the circuit. The 4th-place finish in Paris sees them end in second place overall, three spots higher than their 2016-17 position and four higher 2017-18.
Their Day Two began with a sloppy but ultimately convincing win over Kenya in the Quarter Finals. After falling to Fiji in the Semis they moved on to the Bronze Final, where South Africa had more energy and pulled away in the second half.
Canada would put the disappointment of their winless opening day behind them with a much improved Day Two. They won all three matches to lift the Challenge Trophy and finish 9th in Paris, their final series standing 11th overall.
Argentina lost their Cup Quarter Final to New Zealand, and then saw their day end early as Tila Mealoi’s conversion was the difference for Samoa in the 5th Place Semi Final. The Pumas close out their 2018-19 campaign in 9th place overall.
With the USA earning automatic qualification via their top-four finish, both Canada and Argentina will now look towards their regional tournaments. The Pumas will be favorites to win at the South American qualifier in Santiago on June 29-30, while the Canadians eye George Town on July 6-7 in the North American qualifier.
DAY TWO RESULTS
TROPHY QUARTER FINALS
Ireland 24 – 12 Scotland
Spain 0 – 54 Australia
Japan 7 – 52 England
Wales 12 – 31 Canada
CUP QUARTER FINALS
Fiji 24 – 5 France
USA 26 – 14 Kenya
New Zealand 21 – 12 Argentina
South Africa 40 – 7 Samoa
13th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Scotland 47 – 14 Spain
Japan 33 – 17 Wales
TROPHY SEMI FINALS
Ireland 24 – 17 Australia
England 28 – 41 Canada
5th PLACE SEMI FINALS
France 26 – 21 Kenya
Argentina 10 – 12 Samoa
CUP SEMI FINALS
Fiji 33 – 14 USA
New Zealand 33 – 7 South Africa
13th PLACE FINAL
Scotland 31 – 26 Japan
TROPHY FINAL
Ireland 12 – 28 Canada
5th PLACE FINAL
France 40 – 5 Samoa
BRONZE FINAL
USA 7 – 24 South Africa
CUP FINAL
Fiji 35 – 24 New Zealand
