Fiji favoured to win Gold at Rugby Sevens

Tuesday, 10 April 2018 00:37 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Fiji, after their recent success at the Hong Kong Sevens 2018, will be the firm favoured team to grab the Gold Medal at the Gold Coast Rugby Sevens this weekend.

Rugby will take place at Robina Stadium in Gold Coast with 16 men’s and 8 women’s teams locking horns in the three-day event.

Day 1 will be the women’s competition while day two and three see through the Pool stages and knockout encounters of the Men’s and Women’s semi-finals and finals. Fiji will get tough opposition from defending champions South Africa, four-time winners New Zealand and hosts Australia.

The Sri Lanka outfit under Sudharshana Muthuthanthri arrived in Australia 10 days back were hard at training for this event. Sri Lankans who will be skipping the Asian Rugby Championship Division I in June will tour for the Asian Games in Indonesia during July end to bring the country’s first team medal.

Women’s competition will be held for the first time in 2018, featuring eight teams including hosts and Olympic champions Australia and Sevens Series champions New Zealand. In the men’s event only the number 1 and 2 in each group will progress to the day 3.

Women’s debut

The All Blacks Sevens, winners of the first four Commonwealth Games gold medals, have been drawn with Canada, Kenya and Zambia, while Olympic champions Fiji will meet Wales, Uganda and Sri Lanka in Pool D.

Only the top teams in each pool will progress to the semi-finals.

Men’s pools

A – South Africa, Scotland, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia

B – England, Australia, Samoa, Jamaica

C – New Zealand, Canada, Kenya, Zambia

D – Fiji, Wales, Uganda, Sri Lanka

Women’s pools

A – New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Kenya

B – Australia, Fiji, England, Wales (SJ)