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Argentina put a wrap on a highly successful World Sevens Series campaign with a 35-14 Cup Final victory over Fiji in London on Sunday. It marks the third Gold result for Los Pumas this season with overall winners New Zealand above them on the final standings.
Agustín Fraga’s double led Argentina past Ireland in the Quarter Final, and then a late try from Santiago Álvarez was the difference against Samoa in the Semis. A controversial red card to Josese Batirerega early in the Cup Final severely compromised Fiji but Los Pumas had early proven their mettle. Rodrigo Isgro touched down twice, with Marcos Moneta also grabbing a brace including the 100th try of his Sevens Series career.
100 FOR MONETA!!! 🏉
Marcos Moneta scores his 100th try for @lospumas on the #HSBC7s tour 🇦🇷
What a player! 🙌#London7s pic.twitter.com/rR385lyRRY
— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) May 21, 2023
The USA finally got a victory as they shut out Spain in the 9th Place Semi Final. Their season would come to a disappointing close however as they were blasted by South Africa in the 9th Place Final. With a 10th-overall finish, the Men’s Eagles must now turn their eye to regional Olympic Qualification to be hosted by rivals Canada in August.
Next year’s circuit will see the Men’s program reduced to just 12 teams and 7 tournaments, down from 16 and 11 respectively. Canada secured their place as the final core team with a dramatic victory over Kenya in the Relegation Playoff Final, with Uruguay missing out on the match due to points differential.
DAY THREE RESULTS
CUP QUARTER FINALS
Argentina 28 – 14 Ireland
Samoa 12 – 5 Great Britain
Fiji 19 – 5 Australia
New Zealand 19 – 17 France
9th PLACE SEMI FINALS
South Africa 29 – 7 Japan
USA 24 – 0 Spain
RELEGATION PLAYOFF
Canada 43 – 7 Tonga
Uruguay 14 – 10 Kenya
5th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Ireland 19 – 12 Great Britain
Australia 19 – 22 France
CUP SEMI FINALS
Argentina 10 – 7 Samoa
Fiji 19 – 17 New Zealand
11th PLACE FINAL
Japan 12 – 28 Spain
9th PLACE FINAL
South Africa 47 – 5 USA
7th PLACE FINAL
Great Britain 5 – 34 Australia
5th PLACE FINAL
Ireland 19 – 21 France
BRONZE FINAL
Samoa 24 – 19 New Zealand
RELEGATION FINAL
Canada 12 – 7 Kenya
CUP FINAL
Argentina 35 – 14 Fiji
2022-23 WORLD SERIES FINAL STANDINGS
1 New Zealand (200 pts) *
2 Argentina (179 pts) *
3 Fiji (156 pts) *
4 France (151 pts) *
5 Australia (133 pts) *
6 Samoa (132 pts)
7 South Africa (120 pts)
8 Ireland (114 pts)
9 Great Britain (100 pts)
10 USA (98 pts)
11 Spain (57 pts)
12 Uruguay (54 pts) **
13 Kenya (40 pts) **
14 Canada (39 pts)
15 Japan (18 pts) **
16 Tonga (12 pts)
17 Hong Kong (5 pts)
18 Chile (2 pts)
19 Uganda (2 pts)
* – qualified for Olympic Games
** – relegated from core status for 2023-24 season
