Fiji secures quarterfinals spot after pool sweep in Dubai Sevens
- Fiji dominated its pool matches by defeating New Zealand, the United States, and Spain.
- The upcoming quarterfinal will see Fiji face France, who recently knocked Fiji out in the Olympic Games.
- Fiji looks to avenge its Olympic loss and continue its winning momentum in the tournament.
In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday, Fiji showcased its dominance in the Dubai Sevens rugby tournament by winning all three of its pool matches against New Zealand, the United States, and Spain. This strong performance has set up a highly anticipated rematch against France, who previously thwarted Fiji's aspirations for a third consecutive Olympic gold medal during the Paris Games in July. Notably, the upcoming match will be without one of France's star players, Antoine Dupont, who was recently honored as the men’s world sevens player of the year prior to the tournament. The match against France will be significant, with Fiji aiming to avenge their Olympic defeat. During the tournament, Argentina also maintained an unbeaten streak in their pool and secured a spot in the quarterfinals, where they will face Australia. The other quarterfinal matchups include South Africa, the five-time defending champion, going up against New Zealand and Britain competing against Spain. This tournament marked a historic moment for Spain’s teams, as both their men’s and women’s squads advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2019, highlighting their growing competitiveness in the sport. In women's competition, Olympic champions New Zealand and world series champions Australia both remained unbeaten, setting the stage for a fierce competition. Australia’s Maddison Levi, recognized as the women’s world sevens player of the year, excelled during the tournament, contributing significantly with two hat tricks among her nine tries. Additionally, Ireland's Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe made headlines by scoring seven tries throughout the day, achieving a milestone as one of only three women to reach 200 tries in the world series. The quarterfinals for women will see Ireland play against New Zealand, Australia facing Canada, the U.S. meeting France, and Britain going up against Japan. Overall, the Dubai Sevens tournament not only showcased thrilling rugby action but also highlighted significant individual performances and the evolving landscape of international rugby, with new talents emerging and veteran players making their mark. The absence of key figures like Antoine Dupont for France could impact the team's dynamics and their chances against a determined Fiji side, eager to reclaim glory after their recent Olympic disappointments.