Australia have toppled defending champions Fiji in the Hong Kong Sevens, winning 20-17. It is the first time they have been crowned champions at the tournament in nearly 35 years.

It did not look likely early on, when Fiji had scored two tries to build up a 12-0 lead. But Australia – who last won the title in Hong Kong in 1988 – saw a standout performance from Henry Hutchison, who pulled it back to 12-5 when the gong went for the first half.

Shortly after the second half started, Tim Clements made it 12-10, before Waisea Nacuqu extended Fiji's lead again.

But Australia had their tails in the air and Hutchison gathered in a visionary cross-field kick.

With time running out and Fiji reduced to six men, Nathan Lawson went over for a stunning win.

The performance was much improved from when Australia had earlier scraped through a very scrappy semi-final against France thanks to a drop goal from Maurice Longbottom in extra time after the two sides ended locked at 7-7 at the end of normal time.

Australia were down to five men at the end of the first half but still managed to limit the damage to just one try from the French scrum-half Stephen Parez Edo Martin. It was a game littered with mistakes, sin-bins and little flair.

Fiji had earlier beaten their Pacific rivals Samoa 19-7 in their semi-final.

Meanwhile, New Zealand beat Canada 33-5 to win the third-tier bowl competition, but that will be scant consolation for the 11-time Hong Kong champions, who failed to make the cup competition for the first time ever in the SAR.

Uruguay won the fourth-tier shield by beating Japan 33-10.

Argentina took the plate final – the competition for the losers of the cup quarter-finals. They bulldozed the USA 36-0.

Chief Executive John Lee said the success of the Sevens has proven that Hong Kong has ushered in a new chapter, and returned to the world stage.

He also described the event as a demonstration of the Pearl of the Orient "shining brighter than ever."

The CE had watched some of the games on Sunday, and presented the Australians with their trophy.

Other officials, including finance minister Paul Chan and justice secretary Paul Lam, also attended the final day of the event.
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Last updated: 2022-11-07 HKT 00:10