Hong Kong Sevens 2019 results: Fiji beat France to win historic fifth title in a row

Fiji rose to the occasion as usual to claim a historic fifth straight title at the Hong Kong Sevens, beating France 21-7 in Sunday’s final.

The perennial Hong Kong Stadium favourites ran in three tries to become the first team to win five tournaments here on the bounce despite a gallant effort from the French, who had flown under the radar all week.

“Allez Les Bleus” chanted the sizeable section of French fans in their usual home high up in the East Stand, after an emotional rendition of Le Marseillaise that few would have expected to be hearing at Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday night. The French were unexpected finalists for the second straight tournament, but as in Vancouver against South Africa, they did not have enough left in the tank to cause an upset.

Pre-tournament favourites the US had to settle for bronze, beating Samoa 22-10 final in the third place play off – and the Eagles can at least console themselves knowing they are still top of the World Series standings going into Singapore. New Zealand’s miserable tournament was capped off by a 21-14 defeat by Argentina in the fifth place play off for the Hong Kong Plate. Earlier, Scotland edged Japan 26-24 to win the Challenge Trophy final.

“It’s a fantastic feeling, I’m sure it will sink in over the next two or three days,” Fiji coach Gareth Baber said. “But obviously all of this has been with a backdrop of what’s happened in Christchurch.”

Fiji’s players had presented the All Blacks Sevens with a special gift before their crunch pool C clash on Friday to pay their respects for those affected by last month’s Christchurch mosque shootings.