The first ever Olympic Rugby Sevens Final saw three Old Blues go head-to-head in Rio, with former Cambridge Blue and Fiji Coach Ben Ryan running out victorious over fellow CURUFC Blue and GB Sevens Coach Simon Amor and GB captain Tom Mitchell (Oxford).
Ryan’s Fiji side became the inaugural Olympic Rugby Sevens champions, with a convincing 43-7 win over Great Britain, who were left to settle for a well deserved Silver medal.
It was Fiji’s first Olympic medal, guided by Ryan who was victorious in both the 1995 and 1996 Varsity Matches.
“I’m smiling – it probably stops me from crying,” said Ryan. “The team saved the best until last. They played some staggeringly good stuff. We wanted to showcase the way Fijian sport can be played and wanted to put smiles on everyone’s faces.
“We made it our point that we were going to enjoy this because that’s the best way we play.”
The final was one step too far for Amor’s valiant Great Britain side, led by former OURFC fly-half Tom Mitchell who was one of the stand-out players of the tournament.
“I had a few tears at the end,” Mitchell said. “Everyone has worked so hard, and it has been an amazing journey. It is a nice little way to finish it with a silver medal.”
GB were unbeaten going into the final, securing a shot at the Gold medal with a 7-5 victory over South Africa in the semi-final.
Tom Mitchell (Kellogg) featured in the 2011 Varsity Match for Oxford, whilst GB Head Coach Simon Amor (St. Edmunds) earned a Blue playing in the 2000 Varsity Match for CURUFC.
