What’s happening here?
It’s April Fool’s Day 2007 and Fiji’s 38-year-old player coach Waisale Serevi is goading and taunting New Zealand in the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Sevens in his last appearance as a player at the tournament he became synonymous with. Here he is scoring the winning try against the Kiwis in what was to be his swansong game.
What is the story behind the picture?
Serevi made his Hong Kong debut back in 1989 when, as a brilliant skinny youngster with electric pace and his own version of the David Campese hitch kick, he won the player of the tournament award.
He would appear in a further 15 tournaments and his final tally was seven titles, seven losing appearances in the final, two losing appearances in the semi-finals and five player of the tournament awards. In 1997 and 2005 the Hong Kong tournament expanded to double up as the World Cup Sevens and on both occasions Serevi captained his nation to success. Both wins were celebrated with a day’s national holiday back home in Fiji.
The tournament narrative invariably centred on him. Could anybody beat Serevi’s Fiji? Or could Serevi’s Fiji challenge the Kiwis with Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen on board or a revamped England with James Simpson Daniel, Ben Gollings and Josh Lewsey at full bore. Could he still produce his magic despite advancing years?
この記事は The Rugby Paper の June 21, 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Rugby Paper の June 21, 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.
Scarratt excited by new pathway
ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.
Baxter: I want to make things better
ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.
New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.