Australia Beats New Zealand to Win HSBC London Sevens

(30 May 2022, 12:19 +07)  The battle for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 title will go down to the final event after Australia defeated New Zealand with a thrilling golden-point extra time victory to claim their first gold medal since 2018 in London.

History was made as HSBC Player of the Final Henry Paterson ran in a hat-trick of tries to lead the Aussie Sevens to their first Cup final victory over the All Blacks Sevens in 20 years.

Their 19-14 victory came after Fiji took bronze, while fellow title contenders South Africa and Argentina finished fifth and ninth respectively.

Australia beat New Zealand to win HSBC London Sevens 2022

That series of results saw the Blitzboks reclaim top spot in the series standings with 124 points, two ahead of Australia on 122. Argentina are third with 118 points, while Fiji in fourth have 104 points.

This season, the best seven results will be used for the final series standings, leaving the crown up for grabs ahead of the final event of the season at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles on 27-28 August.

It was another frustrating tournament for South Africa, winners of the first four tournaments of the season, who blew a 17-point lead to lose to Australia in the quarter-finals on a weekend where they had a chance to wrap up the series title if results went their way.

2022 is another huge year for rugby sevens. Alongside the series, the Commonwealth Games will take place in Birmingham, England on 29-31 July, and following the grand finale of the men’s Series in Los Angeles on 27-28 August, all eyes will turn to Cape Town, South Africa for what promises to be a record-breaking Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 on 9-11 September.

Meanwhile the schedule for the 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is scheduled to be announced on Tuesday.

Next year’s series will carry the added significance of offering qualification to the top four men’s and women’s teams to the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Rugby pictures: Pictures from 2019 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2018 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2017 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2016 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures of Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2015, Pictures of the Asia Rugby Sevens Olympic Games Qualifier in Hong Kong, Pictures of Singha Thailand Sevens 2015, Pictures from the 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour in Hong Kong, Pictures of Hong Kong Sevens 2014, Pictures of Hong Kong Sevens 2013, Pictures of Chartis Cup 2012 and Pictures of Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2012.