Intro:

Fiji beat Samoa 31-24 in the Cup final to win the Gold Coast Sevens on Sunday (12th October), the first round of the IRB Sevens World Series.

Script:

The opening round of the 2014/15 Sevens World Series came to the Gold Coast of Australia,

This season also doubles as a qualifying for the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, with the top four teams guaranteed a spot.

In the Shield Final - the four teams finishing bottom in each group - Canada ran out 40-7 winners over Kenya.

The Bowl Final saw the United States brush aside the French 31-15.

A quarter-final defeat for New Zealand to England meant they missed the semi-finals for the first time since Dubai 2011.

Nevertheless, the Kiwis defeated Argentina to claim the Plate.

The final, was left to the South Islanders big boys - Fiji and Samoa.

The Fijians raced into a 26-0 lead prior to half time.

Yet a when Tila Mealoi's try was converted the Samoans trailed Fiji by two points.

But Fiji were not to be denied and Jasa Veremalua crossed over, as they ran out 31-24 winners. And a relieved Fijian side they looked.

The tournament moves on to Dubai in early December.