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Australia's men's rugby sevens team has won the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens for the first time in 34 years, beating Fiji 20-17 in a dramatic final.
- Australia had not won the Hong Kong Sevens since the amateur era of rugby, in 1988
- Australia are defending World Seven's series champions
- Australia defeated Fiji in the final with a try in the last 22 seconds of the game sealing the win
Australia won the most recent of its five titles at the national stadium in Causeway Bay back in 1988.
But with the 2021/22 World Seven's Series title under their belt, Australia was able to kickstart their title defence with victory in the tournament that doubles as the season opener.
Australia had to fight to even get into the final — edging past France 10-7 in the semifinal in golden point and scoring after the siren to beat Ireland 26-17 in the quarters.
"I'm struggling to put it into words," Australia captain Nick Malouf said after the game.
"I think the last time Australia won in Hong Kong was in 1988 so the fact that we've been able to do it … I am just so proud of our group.
"We did well last year and to come out and back it up on the first one and win Hong Kong has blown my mind."
Fiji, the five-time defending champions, led 12-0 just before half-time in the final after tries to Josua Vakurinabili and Waisea Nacuqu.
Henry Hutchinson grabbed Australia's first just before the break and Tim Clements bought the Aussies back to within two.
A second try to Nacuqu re-established Fiji's lead, but from that point on it was all Australia..
Hutchinson crossed with two minutes remaining for his second score to tighten things up once again.
Then, with Fiji down to six men after a late sin-binning, Nathan Lawson spectacularly scored in the corner to get Australia home after player of the tournament Maurice Longbottom scragged Manueli Maisamoa to prise the ball loose inside the Fiji defensive 22.
It was the first Hong Kong Sevens tournament in three-and-a-half years and the crowds turned up in force for the event.
The next stop on the 11-step World Series takes place in Dubai in December.