The sunshine of successive Olympic golds will spread far and wide throughout a Pacific island community ravaged by CovidI got asked on Twitter why the Fijian players always cry when the national anthem is played. It’s true - most of the time that happens and sometimes it’s so emotionally overwhelming it derails the performance if not kept in check. The initial reaction was to say: “Well it’s obvious isn’t it?” But, that would assume the wider public know about what it really means to all Fijians.On Wednesday the beautiful nation of Fiji won only its second Olympic gold medal, both in the country’s national sport, rugby sevens. There are now 25 Fijians from those two teams who have won a...
Earn three more points than Fiji in Paris and Mike Friday, Perry Baker and the rest of the Eagles will be in sevens heavenIf the USA men’s sevens team earns three more points than Fiji in Paris this weekend, they will be crowned world champions. Related: 'We were attracted by the aggression': how rugby rescues lives in America Related: Major League Rugby expands with care – is the Premiership watching? Continue reading...
Many greats, including Gareth Edwards and Will Carling, have played in the Rosslyn Park National Sevens and skills acquired here can be priceless in top-level XVsEveryone in Mumbai knows about the Oval Maidan where 100 games of cricket can take place simultaneously. Football’s nearest equivalent used to be Hackney Marshes where, during the 1950s and 1960s, 120 pitches would cater for 2,500 players every Sunday morning. And rugby? Look no further than the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens taking place in south-west London this week.Over the coming days the world’s largest schools sevens tournament will play host to no fewer than 9,624 participants aged 13 to 18 and 800 teams, including representatives from Pakistan (the splendidly named Angels International College,...
A win without Perry Baker and Danny Barrett will alarm the super powers: the Americans are starting to find some depthIn Las Vegas on Sunday, the USA men’s Eagles beat Samoa 27-0 to win a second USA Sevens title in a row. It was their first gold medal on this season’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series but they took all four silvers before it and they are now clear at the top of the world rankings, five points up on New Zealand, the World Cup winners the Eagles beat in the semi-final. Related: 'Growing as men': Mike Friday on how USA rugby went top of world sevens We’ve identified and picked up and nurtured two or three players each year...
The Eagles look well set for an automatic Olympic place. Rugby’s sleeping giant is most definitely stirringThe USA men’s sevens team has found a way to win – or at least to lead – while losing. Related: Twickenham considers NFL-style plan for elite to split into two regions Related: Pools of intrigue: how the Rugby World Cup groups stack up | Paul Rees Continue reading...