Fiji Goes Down To Samoa

The Digicel Fiji 7s team were denied a last minute try by Nasoni Roko, as they went down 14-19 to Samoa in the final of the London 7s tournament in the last hour.

The referee for the Cup final disallowed the try under controversial circumstances when Setefano Cakau tackled one of the Samoan players before the try was scored.

But it was Samoa's Lolo Lui who grabbed a hat trick of tries in the first half which saw Samoa win the London 7s title. Fiji's Timoci Matanavou scored the only try in the first spell as they trailed 19-7.

In the second half Fiji came strongly with Sailosi Rabonaqica crossing the try line but it was not enough, as they remain winless in the 2007-2008 IRB World 7s Series.

Meanwhile, New Zealand has won this season's IRB World 7s Series for the 8th time in 9 years. Gordon Tietjen's side won the Plate final at the London 7s beating South Africa 17 points to 12.

Fiji advanced into the final after beating Argentina 21-17 in the semifinal. Nasoni Roko scored the last minute try to put Fiji into the final. Samoa advanced into the final after they defeated England 14-12 in the first semifinal.

New Zealand lost to England 17-12 in the Cup quarterfinals but second placed South Africa also lost in the last eight to Argentina 12-0 that saw New Zealand clinch the Series title this season.