Australia capture first World Rugby Sevens season crown

Australia captured a first-ever World Rugby Sevens Series men's season crown on Sunday with a third-place finish at the campaign-ending Los Angeles Sevens tournament.

Australia defeated Samoa 21-7 in the third-place match to decide the title as a nine-month fight came down to the final day with Fiji, Argentina, South Africa and the Aussies in the hunt for the throne.

The Aussies took the breakthrough crown after a best prior finish of second to New Zealand in 2000-01.

Australia became only the fifth nation to claim the title since it was first awarded in 2000, following the Kiwis, Samoa, South Africa and Fiji.

The Blitzboks had a disappointing LA Sevens campaign. On the final day they lost 10-5 to Wales in the 9th place quarter-final, before beating Spain 29-12 in the 13th place semi-final and then topping Japan 26-0 in the 13th place playoff.

The South Africans finished the 2021/22 season second (124 points), two points behind winners Australia (126 points).

Full series standings

?? @Aussie7s have done it!A history making FIRST EVER Men's #HSBC7s Series title! pic.twitter.com/v1GXNipRPc

"Quite surreal to be honest. I can't believe we're here," Australia men's sevens coach John Manenti said. "The boys worked hard.

"We've had our ups and downs. But these kids fought hard and I'm so proud of them. I'm so happy for them. We've done something they will remember forever."

New Zealand defeated Fiji 28-21 in the Los Angeles final, giving the Kiwis their first tournament title of the season.

Fiji won at Singapore in April and in France in May while South Africa won four times and the Aussies won their only tournament at London in May.

Under a special points system used this season due to Covid-19, each team's total includes its best seven