Osea Kolonisau, a former Fiji captain was “happy to get the monkey off their backs” as they ended a 22-year drought by steering his team to a podium finish in Dubai on Sunday at the start of the 2024/2025 World Rugby Sevens World Series. 

The win, the first since 2022 when Fiji last won a World Series leg in Toulouse was a sweet start for Kolonisau who replaced Ben Gollings after the 2023/2024 season that saw the Pacific Islanders clinch bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Nine years ago, Kolonisau, as captain, failed to win the final at this same venue where Fiji edged out Spain 19-5 in a close final. It was the second time the two teams faced off. At the pool stage, Fiji rallied from behind to win 21-15.

In an interview with World Rugby after the final, Kolonisau said it will take consistency and self belief as the teams fly to Cape Town, South Africa for the second leg. The coach included two new players in the squad that had veteran Sevuloni Mocenacagi.  

Historic final

Spain cruised to their historic first final after eight years in the Series by finishing second to Fiji in a tough Pool C that produced three quarter finalists. In the quarter final, Spain edged out Great Britain 19-14 before knocking out New Zealand by the same magic score in the semis. They had beaten the new-look New Zealand team 26-14 at the pool stage on the opening day.

Some of the highlights of the two-day tournament in what has become a popular destination for the Series was the return of Kenya and Uruguay to the core status after finishing first and second in the second tier Challenger Series. 

Uruguay who finished ninth above Kenya beat Ireland 26-14 at the pool stage while Kenya edged out South Africa 22-17 also at the same stage. Dubai was an experimental ground as the teams blooded new players and tested their systems ahead of Cape Town where the real test begins.

Renewed rivalry

In the women’s category, Australia and New Zealand renewed what promises to be a lively rivalry this season. The accolades went to Australia whose mercurial winger Madison Levi continued her prolific growth by scoring the winning try under the uprights for a 28-24 win. 

France clinched the bronze with another narrow 15-12 win over Great Britain.

Ireland who were in top form last season missed a place in the top four after losing 12-33 to New Zealand while Great Britain made their presence felt to finish fourth. China who were promoted to the top tier had a steep learning curve but managed to beat Fiji twice.

The U.S.A., without several key players started on a promising note but the new-look side faded after a spirited opening day losing 12-38 to France in the cup quarters. They finished fourth with a 17-7 win over Ireland. 

Although Australia and New Zealand have laid the markers for the second leg and possibly the rest of the season, France who had a slow start before bursting onto the scene on the second day are close on their heels. Great Britain are looking good and Ireland are expected to bounce back.  

Teams traveling to Cape Town

Women: New Zealand, Australia, France, USA, Canada, Fiji, , Ireland, Great Britain, Japan, Brazil, Spain and China.

Men: Argentina, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, France, Fiji, South Africa, Great Britain, USA, Spain, Uruguay and Kenya.

Day two results

Women

Cup quarters: Great Britain 26 Japan 0, Australia 39 Canada 0, New Zealand 33 Ireland 12, USA 12 France 38; Semi-final: Great Britain 7 Australia 35, New Zealand 28 France 14; Play-off: Great Britain 12 France 15; Final: Australia 28 New Zealand 24.

Fifth place play off: USA 17 Ireland 7.

Seventh place play off: Japan 24 Canada 22.

Ninth place semi-final: China 24 Fiji 7, Spain 15 Brazil 29; Final: China 17 Brazil 24.

11th place final: Fiji 0 Spain10.

Ranking: Australia 20, New Zealand 18, France 16, Great Britain 14, USA 12, Ireland 10, Japan 8, Canada 6, Brazil 4, China 3, Spain 2, Fiji 1.

Men

Cup quarter finals

Great Britain 14 Spain 19, South Africa 17 New Zealand 24, Fiji 19 France 17, Argentina 22 Australia 20; Semi-final: Spain 19 New Zealand 14; Fiji 43 Argentina 21; Play off: New Zealand 0 Argentina 14; Final: Spain 5 Fiji 19.

Fifth place play off: South Africa 15 France 17.

Seventh place semi-final: Great Britain 12 Australia 17. 

Ninth place semi-final: Uruguay 15 USA 12, Kenya 21 Ireland 7; Final: Uruguay 15 Kenya 7.

Eleventh place final: USA 12 Ireland 19.

Ranking: Fiji 20, Spain 18, Argentina 16, New Zealand 14, France 12, South Africa 10, Australia 8, Great Britain 6, Uruguay 4, Kenya 3, Ireland 2, USA 1

Day one results

Women

Pool A: Australia, Ireland, Fiji, China.

Ireland 30 Fiji 12, Australia 52 China 0, Ireland 31 China 21, Australia 42 Fiji 7,  Fiji 14 China 15, Australia 24 Ireland 5.

Pool B: France, USA, Great Britain, Spain.

USA 26 Great Britain 15, France 12 Spain 24, USA 33 Spain 7, France 12 Great Britain 14, Great Britain 24 Spain 12, France 14 USA 5 

Pool C: New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Brazil

Canada 5 Japan 40, New Zealand 33 Brazil 5, Canada 38 Brazil 12, New Zealand 36 Japan 12, Japan 14 Brazil 12, New Zealand 38 Canada 5, 

Men

Pool A: France, South Africa, Australia, Kenya.

South Africa 17 Australia 0, France 24 Kenya 19, South Africa 17 Kenya 22, France 14 Australia 10, Australia 31 Kenya 14, France 19 South Africa 24.

Pool B: Argentina, Ireland, Great Britain, Uruguay.

Ireland 17 Great Britain 22, Argentina 45 Uruguay 7, Ireland 14 Uruguay 26, Argentina 22 Great Britain 5, Great Britain 31 Uruguay 10, Argentina 29 Ireland 7.

Pool C: Fiji, New Zealand, USA, Spain.

New Zealand 28 USA 12, Fiji 21 Spain 15, New Zealand 14 Spain 26, Fiji 42 USA 20, USA 0 Spain 26, Fiji 21 New Zealand 12.

2024/2025 World Rugby Sevens World Series venues and dates

Dubai: November 30- December 1, 2024.

Cape Town: December 7-8, 2024.

Perth: January 24-26, 2025.

Vancouver: February 21-23, 2025.

Hong Kong: March 28-30, 2025.

Singapore: April 5-6, 2025.Los Angeles: May 3-4, 2025.