USA Secures the Shield, while Fiji Wins its First IRB Sevens World Series Title of the Season in San Diego

(SAN DIEGO, Calif.) 11 February 2007 -- Both the United States and the Fiji Men’s Sevens Teams found redemption from last week’s matches in Wellington with wins at the Steinlager USA Sevens event today in San Diego, Calif. The U.S. secured its first IRB Sevens World Series Shield since the USA Sevens Tournament in Los Angeles in 2004 by beating Portugal, 26-5, making great strides compared to last week’s showing in New Zealand at which the U.S. lost a close one to the Portuguese in pool play, 26-21. The Eagles finished 3-3 for the tournament, shutting out the West Indies, 17-0, and losing to Canada this morning in a close 14-7 setback. “After reviewing tape of the last couple games, we turned our focus on not missing any tackles and I was really proud of the guy’s patience and ball control in this last match,” Men’s National Sevens Team Coach Al Caravelli said. “The final score really didn’t reflect how well Portugal played. They are tough competitors on the field and we have high regards for them as a sevens team.” The USA only led Portugal, 14-5 at halftime, but in the second half really turned up the heat, scoring two more tries and a conversion for a total score of 26 and the honor of taking home the IRB Sevens World Series Shield in front of the USA’s large constituency of fans that showed up at Petco Park to watch San Diego’s first USA Sevens. “How the U.S. played today was extremely important to the growth of our sport in the USA. Not only will it help our fan base, but it could even grow the interest of our sport at the youth and high school level,” Caravelli added. Fiji also had a chance to redeem itself today as it met Samoa in the Cup Championship for the second week in a row. This time, however, Fiji walked away the victors, after a battle of physicality ended in Fiji’s favor, 38-24. In other final action, South Africa beat Scotland, 28 -19, for the Plate, while Argentina and Tonga had to battle through overtime for a 22-17 result in Tonga’s favor for the Bowl. The rest of the results from today’s matches are as follows: Argentina 17, Portugal 10; Kenya 31, Chile 12; Tonga 22, West Indies 5; Fiji 26, South Africa 21 (OT); New Zealand 19, England 7; France 10, Australia 7; Samoa 34, Scotland 0; Portugal 42, Chile 10; USA 17, West Indies 0; Argentina 22, Kenya 5; Tonga 24 , Canada 10; S. Africa 21, England 14; Scotland 17, Australia 7; Fiji 19, New Zealand 10; Samoa 38, France 0. USA Scores Bowl Quarterfinals Canada 14, USA 7 Canada (14) Tries: Kyle Haley, Philip Mack USA (7) Tries: Jason Pye Shield Semifinals USA 17, West Indies 0 USA (17) Tries: Justin Hundley, Dallen Stanford, James Gillenwater Shield Finals USA 26, Portugal 5 USA (26) Tries: Jone Naqica, Takudzwa Ngwenya, Tui Osborne, Todd Clever Conversions: Naqica 3. Portugal (5) Tries: Pedro Leal For more information on the Steinlager USA Sevens, please log on to www.usasevens.com. For more information on the USA Sevens National Team, please log on to www.usarugby.org.