World Rugby Sevens Series, Round 9
2018 London Sevens
2-3 June 2018
Twickenham Stadium, London
Fiji will chase a fourth successive tournament victory when they headline this weekend’s 9th round of the 2017-18
World Rugby Sevens Series, set for London’s Twickenham Stadium on 2-3 June.
Fiji overtook South Africa at the top of the standings with their triumph in Singapore in late April, defeating Australia 28-22 in the final. It added to their success at the two previous rounds in Hong Kong and Vancouver, as well as in Hamilton in February.
Gareth Barber’s side enter the London Sevens as favourites to claim the Cup title and add to the narrow four-point lead they hold over South Africa at the top of the log. Even with New Zealand in their pool, Fiji are still favoured to advance strongly to the quarterfinals.
The Blitzboks have been consistent scorers through the season, but coach Neil Powell will want to see his side return to the tournament-winning form that brought them the Cup title in the opening round of the series in Dubai last year.
Thus he has recalled five key players for the London Sevens, including regular captain Philip Snyman and leading try-scorer Seabelo Senatla. South Africa will face Russia, Canada and Samoa in their pool and will likely battle either Fiji or New Zealand in a tough quarterfinal.
The other groups feature Australia (fourth on the overall standings) and hosts England, who will be hoping to go one better than they managed on home soil last year, as they succumbed to Scotland 12-7 in the Cup final.
Saturday schedule (all times CAT)
10h30 – Pool D, Samoa v Canada
10h52 – Pool D, South Africa v Russia
11h14 – Pool B, Spain v Wales
11h36 – Pool B, Australia v Ireland
11h58 – Pool A, New Zealand v Scotland
12h20 – Pool A, Fiji v Argentina
12h42 – Pool C, Kenya v USA
13h04 – Pool C, England v France
13h36 – Pool D, Samoa v Russia
13h58 – Pool D, South Africa v Canada
14h20 – Pool B, Spain v Ireland
14h42 – Pool B, Australia v Wales
15h04 – Pool A, New Zealand v Argentina
15h26 – Pool A, Fiji v Scotland
15h48 – Pool C, Kenya v France
16h10 – Pool C, England v USA
16h42 – Pool D, Canada v Russia
17h04 – Pool D, South Africa v Samoa
17h26 – Pool B, Wales v Ireland
17h48 – Pool B, Australia v Spain
18h10 – Pool A, Scotland v Argentina
18h32 – Pool A, Fiji v New Zealand
18h54 – Pool C, USA v France
19h16 – Pool C, England v Kenya
Sunday schedule, Cup matches only (all times CAT)
11h58 – Cup Quarterfinal 1, 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool D
12h20 – Cup Quarterfinal 2, 1st Pool C v 2nd Pool B
12h42 – Cup Quarterfinal 3, 1st Pool D v 2nd Pool A
13h04 – Cup Quarterfinal 4, 1st Pool B v 2nd Pool C
15h48 – Cup Semifinal 1, Winner Cup QF1 v Winner Cup QF2
16h10 – Cup Semifinal 2, Winner Cup QF3 v Winner Cup QF4
18h32 – Cup Third-place playoff, Loser Cup SF1 v Loser Cup SF2
18h57 – Cup Final, Winner Cup SF1 v Winner Cup SF2
2017-18 World Rugby Sevens Series standings, top 10
1 – Fiji – 145 points
2 – South Africa – 141
3 – New Zealand – 120
4 – Australia – 108
5 – United States – 93
6 – Kenya – 93
7 – Argentina – 92
8 – England – 88
9 – Samoa – 55
10 – Scotland – 51
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