GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) β Fiji edged Samoa 31-24 in an all-Pacific final in the opening round of the rugby sevens world series Sunday, taking first honors on the road to the Rio Olympics.
The top four teams in the nine-tournament IRB series automatically qualify for the 2016 Olympics, elevating the stakes on the Gold Coast.
England knocked heavyweight New Zealand out in the quarterfinals with a surprising 31-7 victory, but had no answer against a rampant Fiji in the semifinals, losing 48-7.
Samoa reached the final with a 28-12 win over South Africa, which knocked host Australia out of contention in the quarterfinals.
England beat South Africa 19-0 for third place, while the defending world series champion New Zealand squad rebounded to win the plate division with comprehensive wins over Wales and Argentina.
