30 Mar 2009

International Wire Story

5:37 am on 30 March 2009

Fiji has won the Hong Kong sevens title for the first time in 10 years.

They beat South Africa 26-24 in the final, with South Africa captain Mzwandile Stick missing a chance to tie the game when he missed a conversion after the final hooter.

Fiji led 19-12 at halftime but in the second half indiscipline saw two of their players sin binned.

Fiji has won the Hong Kong title 10 times since the tournament started in 1976, the last time in 1999.

They won this year with a new look team after ditching overseas-based stars who were humbled in this month's World Cup quarter-finals by Kenya.

Earlier Kenya had knocked New Zealand out in the quater finals, winning 10-7.

Fiji beat Kenya in the semi-finals 24-7 after beating England in the quarter finals.

South Africa downed Australia in the quarter-finals before beating Samoa 29-3 in the last four.

Fiji's win sees them go to third in the Sevens World Series standings behind South Africa and England with three tournaments to go.

Sevens is pushing for inclusion in the 2016 Olympics with a decision expected in October.