Fiji v Spain during the 2024 Emirates Dubai 7s Pool C match at The Sevens Stadium on Saturday. Photo: Zach Franzen / World Rugby
Fiji returned to sevens rugby glory in Dubai for the first time since 2015, when they defeated Spain 19-5 in the final of the Dubai 7s early on Monday morning (NZ Time) in the opening stanza of the 2024/2025 HSBC Sevens Series.
Fiji, chasing their first title after 22 attempts, levelled terms just before half-time after Spain had taken a 5-0 lead, the minnows also making history by appearing in their first tournament.
Player of the final Filipe Sauturaga shrugged off Spanish defenders and raced to the tryline to score the equaliser, although he could have given them a lead at half-time, missing his conversion attempt from close.
But the new Dubai 7s champions fought back in the second half to score two tries and lift the side to their first title of the new 2024/2025 world sevens series.
Captain Jerry Matana and Ilikimi Torosi claimed tries that mattered as they denied Spain possession about five minutes in the second half.
The Fijians had defeated Argentina 43-21 in the semi-finals, while Spain upset New Zealand in their last four clash, having also beaten the Kiwis in pool play on Saturday.
Coach Osea Kolinisau, retained after the silver medal win at the Paris Olympics earlier this year, paid tribute to the God for His support, the players, their families and fans.
He had won the last title for Fiji in Dubai in 2015.
"Thanks be to God. He has always been the source of our strength," he said after the final.
"Been a long time coming, thank the Lord almighty. Last one here was nine years again, am so happy for the boys for what they have been through.
"Am so happy we have got the monkey off our back now and I thank all the people back home and our families for always supporting us."
The team now heads to Capetown, South Africa next weekend and said they will need to be consistent as the series moves on.
His secret of success?
"Hard work and we want to be consistent," the former Fijian captain said.
"We have worked really hard this last six months and we were disappointed in the last six months.
"We were disappointed we lost at the Olympics but I told the boys we need to focus."
Kolinisau said that Spain, who caused the major upset of the weekend by beating New Zealand twice in 24 hours, were going to be strong and tough to handle.
"They proved that that's why they were in the final," he said.
"We knew Spain will be a strong side and I told the boys they will throw everything at us because they are in the final.
"We needed possession and I told them to just focus in the second half."
The Fijians had a perfect tournament, kicking off their campaign with a close 21-15 over Spain in their opening pool match, then took the United States of America to pieces with a powerful 42-20 win before beating New Zealand 21-12 in their third pool win.
They avenged their Paris Olympics final loss to France in the quarterfinal, ending the French 19-17.
Spain, on the other hand, caused the biggest upset in pool play when they beat New Zealand 26-14 and followed that up with a big 28-0 win over the USA.
In the quarterfinal, the side accounted for Great Britain 19-14 before sending New Zealand out of contention, with a 19-14 beating in the semi-finals.
The win now leaves Fiji leading the men's competition, heading to Capetown.
Argentina defeated New Zealand 14-0 in the third place playoff while Uruguay took fifth spot with a 15-7 victory over Kenya, both sides making a return to the series this year.
It was not the same story for the Fijiana women's side, who had nine debutantes in their side.
Tougher run it was for them, finishing the event without a win.
New coach Timoci Volavola watched as his players went down 14-15 to newcomers China, 30-12 to to Ireland and thrashed 42-7 by eventual women's title winners Australia, 42-7.
The Fijiana side also went down 22-5 to Spain in the 11th place play-off.
Australia defeated New Zealand 28-24 to retain their Dubai title and lead the women's standing after the first round.
