Fiji has secured a rematch against France in the Dubai Sevens rugby tournament, following an impressive sweep of its pool games. The Fijian team triumphed over New Zealand, the United States, and Spain, setting the stage for a highly anticipated clash with France. This encounter is particularly significant as France previously thwarted Fiji’s aspirations for a third consecutive gold medal at the Paris Olympics, taking place in July.
Interestingly, the French team will be competing without star player Antoine Dupont, who recently received the accolade of men’s world sevens player of the year. The landscape of the tournament has seen considerable changes due to numerous retirements and team alterations post-Olympics, resulting in a remarkable 91 debuts across both the men’s and women’s divisions.
In addition to Fiji’s success, Argentina made its mark as the only other unbeaten team in the men’s category, setting up a quarterfinal matchup against Australia. Today’s quarterfinal fixtures include Great Britain facing Spain, South Africa going up against New Zealand, and Argentina competing against Australia.
Notably, both the men’s and women’s teams from Spain have reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2019, with the men defeating New Zealand 26-14—a rare achievement in their world series history—and the women overcoming France 24-12.
This exciting tournament highlights not only the competitive spirit of rugby but also the potential for underdog stories as teams like Spain and Argentina aim to make their mark on the international stage.
Overall, the upcoming matches promise high-stakes drama, and fans can look forward to an exhilarating day of rugby. The rematch between Fiji and France will certainly reignite the rivalry and showcase the evolving landscape of the sport.
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