A day after securing Team GB’s qualification for the rugby sevens event at Rio 2016, England came fourth in the London leg of the World Series following defeat to Fiji in the third-place match.
Scintillating scores from Tom Bowen and Richard De Carpentier gave Simon Amor’s men a 12-7 half-time lead against the newly crowned World Series champions, but they were unable to maintain the same intensity after the break.
Isake Katonibau notched two of Fiji’s four tries in the game as they showed their class to pull clear and record a 26-12 triumph in both sides' final game of the season.
England had started the second day of competition in thrilling style, riding the wave of Olympic qualification into their quarter-final clash with New Zealand to record victory.
Marcus Watson picked up the best of the tries in that one with a dazzling break and finish that helped secure a 21-17 success.
That result set up a semi-final shootout with the USA, and it was the turn of the American flyers to steal the show – Perry Baker and Carlin Isles both used their blistering speed to devastating effect as they ran out 46-12 winners.
The Eagles went on to be crowned London Sevens champions in a fine showpiece on the Twickenham turf, while Amor was left delighted with a weekend in which the Rio dream was realised.
“I am so proud of the boys. They have worked so hard this year and there have been some real challenges, but they have kept their mental focus and managed all the expectations,” the England coach said.
“This is a very special and exciting group – I am excited about what they can do in the future.”
© Sportsbeat 2015