Okay sports fans, on my new additional segment, called “Background Buzz”, I take a closer look at international 7s rugby where the All Blacks 7s beat Argentina 19-24 to win the Toulouse 7s Men’s title, making it another Kiwi double.
The Fiji Men’s 7s team qualified for the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris after beating Spain 15-26 for 9th place. Argentina also qualified for the 2024 Olympics.
So how does the HSBC 7s Series table look now with only the London 7s to go this weekend at Twickenham?
New Zealand on 186 points from five Gold, two Silver and one Bronze medal finishes from 11 HSBC 7s Series tournaments so far, is in some form.
Right now the Kiwis are on a hot streak of three back-to-back Gold medal wins in Hong Kong, Singapore and now Toulouse.
Argentina are second on 159 points, France are 3rd on 139 and qualified automatically for the Olympics as host.
Fiji Men in 4th spot have qualified with 138 points, based on three bronze medal finishes and one silver from Hong Kong.
Australia is 5th on 125 points, Samoa is in 6th spot on 116 points, same as South Africa.
Relative newcomers to the HSBC 7s Series, Ireland lead the rest, including USA, on 104 points in 8th place.
Of interest to our little rugby corner of the world is that, Australia should grab the 4th qualification spot for Paris 2024 in London.
They can do so because remember, France are a automatic qualifier as Olympic Games host.
This is huge for Oceania, because it leaves the door open for Samoa who have had a quite outstanding rugby 7s resurgence of late, under mercurial Coach Brian Lima, to easily qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time.
I won’t talk about Fiji’s chances at Paris 2024 for 7s Gold or Bronze or better for Fijiana, that will come later after the London 7s.
And that’s a wrap!
For TEIVOVOsports.com I’m Culden Kamea – Mahalo, vinaka and thank you. Please hit the subscribe button below if you would like to receive more Pasifika sports highlights on Breakfast Bites.
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