Rugby: Fiji crowned sevens world champions, US win first title

 Perry Baker (left) of the United States tackles Australia's Pama Fou during the London Sevens rugby union cup final match between USA and Australia, part of the IRB Sevens World Series, at Twickenham Stadium in London on Sunday. -- PHOTO: AFP
 Perry Baker (left) of the United States tackles Australia's Pama Fou during the London Sevens rugby union cup final match between USA and Australia, part of the IRB Sevens World Series, at Twickenham Stadium in London on Sunday. -- PHOTO: AFP

LONDON (REUTERS) - Fiji were crowned sevens world series champions for the first time in nine years on Sunday as the United States won the final tournament of the season at Twickenham, their first ever title.

Two tries from Savenaca Rawaca secured Fiji's 19-7 win over South Africa in the quarter-finals to guarantee their second world title and although they lost to Australia in the semis they beat England 26-12 in the third-place playoff to end on a high.

"I can't really put it into words, we were just focusing on the South Africa game, but deservedly won and took the title," Fiji coach Ben Ryan told the tournament website. "The boys were very overly emotional in the changing room and I had to control them a bit and remind them to start smiling and that this is supposed to be fun. It was certainly a topsy- turvy weekend."

The US team overpowered Australia 45-22 in the final, Danny Barrett and Maka Unufe scoring two tries each.

"It is amazing, credit to those boys, the 12 of them have been absolutely fantastic and their work effort has been fantastic," US coach Mike Friday said. "I've said to them if you work hard in life then you get the rewards and they've been a credit to their country and their families and I'm proud of every one of them."

Fiji's first win since 2006, and their second since the series began in 1999, broke 12-times winners New Zealand's stranglehold on the trophy they had won for the last four years.

England confirmed they will be the team to represent Britain in the inaugural rugby sevens tournament at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro after guaranteeing a top-four finish with two pool wins on Saturday.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.