Samoa Kings of Tahiti Nui Sevens

For the 4th Tahiti Nui Sevens Tournament (27^th November), the tournament organisers decided that this year’s venue would be at Bora Bora the most notable of the Tahiti islands.

This decision was made in accordance with a strategy to further promote the game in Tahiti and also to coincide with the recent opening of the new Bora Bora stadium and sports complex.

Participating teams all arrived in Bora Bora approximately 48 hours prior to the commencement of the first match. During this time the teams were hosted on a sight seeing boat trip around the island, a gesture that was greatly appreciated by all teams.

All teams were accommodated at Novotel Island Resort and the tournament was hosted by the Bora Bora Rugby Club. Club members greatly contributed to the success of the tournament by helping with the organisation and preparation of the ground and facilities.

The teams participating in the tournament were Samoa, Nadroga (Fiji), Niue, USA and two Tahiti teams.

The tournament comprised of two pools with each team playing two games in round robin. The winners and runners-up of each pool then played semi-finals.

After pool play, Nadroga from Fiji emerged as the tournament favourites having compiled an impressive 85 points in two matches whilst not having their line crossed. Samoa impressed in winning the other pool, also being undefeated.

In the first semi-final Samoa predictably proved too strong for USA in winning 26-7.

In the other semi-final, Niue played a tight game denying Nadroga (Fiji) of possession in running out surprise winners by 19-10.

The two Tahiti teams played off in the bowl final with Barbarians Raromatai defeating Tahiti 19-12.

In the plate final, Fiji was far too strong for USA winning 35-12.

The Cup final was not the contest hoped for with Niue reduced to a depleted squad of only eight players as a result of injuries sustained in earlier matches. In a final of ten minutes each way this proved to be too big a hurdle to overcome with Samoa impressing in running out deserved and comfortable winners by 46-5.

This was Samoa’s third victory in four years in this Tahiti Nui Sevens tournament.

Overall it was a very successful tournament, played on an excellent surface at the new Bora Bora stadium in front of a crowd of approximately 500. All who attended appreciated the entertaining style of rugby played by all teams.

2010 TAHITI NUI SEVENS

COMPETITION POINTS TABLE/RESULTS

POOL A:

POOL A POINTS TABLE

POOL B:

POOL B POINTS TABLE

SEMI – FINALS

Samoa                                    26                    v                      USA                               7

Niue                                        19                    v                      Nadroga (Fiji)           10

SHIELD  FINAL

Raromata’i                            19                    v                      Tahiti                          12

BOWL  FINAL

Nadroga (Fiji)                       35                    v                      USA                             12

CUP   FINAL

Samoa                                    46                    v                      Niue                              5