World Sevens Series

The Brian Lima coached side now has 81 points behind Fiji, who’s in fourth place with 84 points.

New Zealand continues to lead the series with 107 points ahead of Argentina in second place with 86 points.

South Africa is in third place with 86 points too.

Only the top four teams in the 2022/2023 Series plus hosts France will earn automatic qualification to next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

The results of the tournament places South Africa second overall and the Kiwis third.     

The New Zealand Sevens is back on the circuit following a two-year absence due to the COVID pandemic.

The resurrected Hamilton event, which will run over two days from January 21, will feature full men's and women's draws.

New Zealand Rugby Head of Tournaments & Competitions, Cameron Good, said the announcement was a feel-good moment after two tough years for the events industry.

The new season kicks off in Vancouver on September 18, with another tournament in Edmonton the following weekend.

But Fiji's Olympic gold medal winning team and Samoa have joined New Zealand, Australia and Argentina in opting to skip the Canadian leg because of the ongoing effects of COVID-19, while Fiji will also be absent from the Singapore Sevens in October.

Fiji's players went more than four months without seeing their friends and families in order to achieve their Olympic dream in Japan.

Women players will have a chance to warm up for Tokyo with back-to-back tournaments in Paris in May but the first men's event is not scheduled until October.

World Rugby announced that five women's and four men's rounds have been finalised, with the addition of two more men's events still under discussion.

After the Paris women's events on May 15-16 and May 22-23 the Series takes a break for the Olympic repechage in June - the final qualification event ahead of the Tokyo Games which begins on July 23.

Fiji internationals Napolioni Bolaca and Aminiasi Tuimaba were joined in star-studden men's line-up by Fiji born Tavite Veredamu, who impressive season with France.

Bolaca was the top point-scorer on the global circuit last season while Tuimaba earned a second successive selection after finishing third in the series try-scoring tally, behind Ireland's Jordan Conroy and American speedster Carlin Isles.

Tuimaba arrived home yesterday morning to join his family who are mourning the loss of his grandfather, who the Yasawa speedster attributes much of his rugby and professional success to.

Ikanikoda sustained a high grade ankle injury in the Monday's Cup final defeat by South Africa in Los Angeles.

Fiji coach Gareth Baber said the squad was fortunate to have enough depth that he could call upon replacements without disruption to their preparation for Canada.

The Gordon Tietjens coached side won their last pool game 19-14 against Scotland after losing to Australia 31-5 and USA 19-17.

The team went on to win the 9th place quarterfinal against Kenya 28-19 before bowing out in the category’s semifinal, losing to Argentina 28-12.

Samoa is currently in 13th place in the overall World Sevens Series points table with 23 points.

Head coach Gareth Baber said the Police star's consistent work ethic and attitude to training has impressed.

"He's got a maturity about his game, and he knows the game of sevens, he just loves to work, he's got a great work ethic and that's what we love about him."

The other 13 players in the touring squad remain unchanged with Meli Derenalagi retaining the captaincy in the continued absence of regular skipper Paula Dranisinukula.

Twenty-eight teams will take part in the first fully integrated men's and women's international tournament to be played in New Zealand.

Both the All Blacks Sevens and the Black Ferns Sevens teams come to Hamilton victorious from the previous round held at the end of last year in Cape Town.

All of the 28 teams have now arrived in Hamilton.

The teams have spread out around the city making time between training to promote the game and visit hospitals, rest homes and get involved with younger players.