Argentina beat Fiji to claim first World Sevens title in 14 years

10 tries from speedy Marcos Moneta a highlight of the weekend as England legend Dan Norton retires

Australia finish third in the tournament, while South Africa are fifth, Ireland ninth and USA 13th

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Argentina’s players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Vancouver leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:49pm, 18 Apr 2022

They say good things come to those who wait, and that was certainly the case for Argentina on day two of the Vancouver Sevens.

The Pumas beat the Olympic champions Fiji 29-10 in the final of the sixth leg of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – and in doing so claimed their first tournament win in the series in 14 years.

The Argentinians played impressive rugby all weekend, but really turned it on in the final against the Pacific islanders – the winners in Singapore last week – to lift the title.

The last time Argentina won a World Series crown was in 2008, when current coach Santi Gomez Cora was a player.

Argentina’s Rodrigo Isgro (right) claims the ball in the air from Fiji’s Vuiviawa Naduvalo during the HSBC Canada Sevens. Photo: AP

“You have to dream, because dreams do come true,” an emotional Gomez Cora said after the full-time whistle.

“I loved playing on the circuit, but ever since I have been a coach, this has been the moment I have been working towards. My players must take all the credit, because they work so hard and they wanted to win this one for their country so much.”