New Zealand Win Men’s and Women’s Rugby Sevens World Cup
New Zealand’s men and women Rugby Sevens squads are World Cup champions.Competition in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium ended on June 30.The New Zealand men’s team beat England 33-0 in their final match, and the women’s squad defeated Canada 29-12.Following his team’s victory, Kiwi men’s captain called the victory "humbling."
"This win is for the boys, the management here and everyone back home," he said.
New Zealand beat Canada to win the Women's Rugby World Cup trophy. (Getty Images) New Zealand's women's captain Huriana Manuel said after the finals: "It feels amazing to be world champions. We have worked so hard for each other and we left it all out there on the field. I am so proud." Bernard Lappaset, chairman of the International Rugby Board said in a statement he was thrilled with the tournament.
"New stars were born and stars from past Rugby World Cup Sevens amazed us again," he said.
"As we celebrate the success of an event that has broken new frontiers and taken our sport to new audiences, let us together wish the best for these players as they aim for the 2016 Olympic Games."
Russia won the men’s Bowl Final in a match against Japan. Canada defeated Samoa in the men’s Plate Final 19-12. Fiji’s men’s team took Third Place, following their a win against Kenya.
Fiji’s women’s team beat the Netherlands 12-10 in the Bowl Final. Australia won against England 14-5 in the Plate Final, and the United States took Third Place after defeating Spain 10-5.
Attendance Concerns Downplayed
Attendance was thin at Luzhniki Stadium during the 2013 Rugby Sevens World Cup. (Getty Images) Media reports said attendance for the event was lackluster, with a light attendance for matches.
Speaking to the news agency AFP, International Rugby Board CEO Brett Gosper said uncooperative weather and "too-accessible tickets" suppressed attendance.
"We came to Moscow to take the game to another part of the world, where the sport is developing strongly but still in its infancy, not in time, but a relative minnow," Gosper was quoted.
"We're probably a touch disappointed, we would have liked to have seen a few more people in the crowd, but we've been pushing 20,000 a day for this stadium. Luzhniki Stadium seats 79,000 spectators.
Written byNicole Bennett. Presented by the Russian Olympic Committee
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