- New Zealand win Hong Kong Rugby Sevens title
- Beat England 26-7 in Sunday's final
- New Zealand back to top of HSBC Sevens World series
- Fiji beat Australia for third place
Follow us at @WorldSportCNN and like us on Facebook
(CNN) -- New Zealand turned on the style to beat England 26-7 in Sunday's final of the Hong Kong Sevens as they ran in four tries in a comprehensive victory.
The New Zealand triumph -- their fifth since 2000 in the prestigious event -- took them back to the top of the HSBC Sevens World Series -- with two rounds of the nine remaining.
England, who beat two-time holders Fiji in the semifinal, were always on the back foot in the finale of the three-day tournament and scored a lone try through Tom Powell.
The rising star of rugby sevens
Lomu praises historic rugby coach
Behind the scenes with Fiji Sevens Blog: Olympic fever grips HK Rugby Sevens
But New Zealand breached their defense regularly as Ben Lam, Tim Mikkelson, captain DJ Forbes and Sam Dickson crossed in a dominant display.
"It is a great feeling," coach Gordon Tietjen told the official tournament website.
"My captain leads so well from the front, he was simply amazing. And also the other players linked in with him, we played a good final.
"This will certainly help in going towards winning that title."
In the earlier playoff for third place, Fiji gained some consolation for their semifinal setback by beating Australia 21-12.
South Africa beat Wales 19-14 in the Plate Final and are the nearest challengers to New Zealand in the battle for overall honors, trailing by seven points in the standings, with Fiji in third.
Tournaments in Scotland and England in May will complete the world series.
DJ Forbes and the New Zealand team celebrate lifting the HSBC Hong Kong Sevens trophy after beating England in the final. Their victory comes at the end of a three-day festival which is one of the highlights of the social scene in Hong Kong.
Welcome to Hong Kong, where
The annual three-day Hong Kong tournament is as famous for
The biggest party in world sevens got going on March 28, and already the costumes are out on show.
If this year is anything like what's come before, you can expect...
Ten twisting pharaohs...
Nine jumping judges...
Eight hulking hulks...
Seven dopey dwarfs...
Six saintly nuns...
Five bad-tempered beers...
Four Where's Waldos (found)...
Three saluting soldiers...
Two gorgeous girls...
...but only one James Bond.
And one former Scottish rugby international -- Chris Paterson -- getting in on the act, too.
Stay up to date with everything that's happening in this year's HSBC Sevens World Series -- on and off the pitch -- on CNN's
Find out more about all the stops on the tour from
And look out for the series' blockbuster conclusion in London in May. 


















No comments:
Post a Comment