Dubai SVNS 2024/25: Fiji overcome plucky Spanish for men's title as Australian women win fifth title in a row
Fiji beat first-time Cup finalists Spain 17-5 with the Australian women beating arch-rivals New Zealand for their fifth consecutive Dubai title on Sunday (1 December).
Rugby Sevens
Three-time Olympic rugby sevens medallists Fiji brought Spain’s fairytale run to an end in the men’s final of the opening leg of the World Rugby SVNS Series 2024/25 in Dubai on Sunday (1 December).
While Fiji triumphed 17-5 to claim the traditional desert opener for the third time, Spain stole the show, reaching their first-ever Sevens Cup final. Spain completed a dream run en route to the match, which included victories over New Zealand, the United States and Great Britain.
Fiji showed their experience playing in finals as they scored two unanswered tries in the second half after the sides were level on 5-5 at the recess.
The Spanish drew first blood after Manu Moreno broke through the Fijian defences before Pol Pla went over in the left-hand corner for a five-point lead after missing the conversion.
Fiji found the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time with Filipe Sauturaga bursting over the line with a wayward conversion kick, ensuring the sides went into the break level on 5-5.
The Pacific Islanders moved ahead for the first time in the contest as Jerry Matana scored a converted try almost immediately after the restart (12-5). Fiji then extended their lead to 12 points with Viwa Naduvalo adding his name to the scoreboard.
In the women's tournament, defending SVNS series winners Australia claimed their fifth consecutive Dubai title with a 28-24 victory over Olympic champions New Zealand.
The Aussies got off to a flying start, scoring two tries in quick succession in the opening three minutes courtesy of Faith Nathan and Teagan Levi.
The New Zealanders Jorja Miller and Risi Pouri-Lane returned the favour to get within two points after the second try was not converted. But it was the Australians who went into the break in good spirits as skipper Isabella Nasser scored a converted try in the dying seconds of the first half to go 21-12 up.
New Zealand responded shortly after the restart, with Theresa Setefano crossing the whitewash for a four-point deficit.
Feeding off the positive momentum, the Kiwis struck again two minutes later through Manaia Nuku to take the lead for the first time in the contest at 24-21.
Prolific try-scorer Maddison Levi swung the momentum back in Australia’s favour as she intercepted the ball in her quarter to go over for a record 15th five-pointer of the weekend. Levi now holds the record for the most tries at a single tournament.