2008 USA Sevens
Encyclopedia
The USA Sevens
, with the New Zealand
brewery
Steinlager
as the presenting sponsor, is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series
for international rugby sevens
(seven-a-side version of rugby union
). The 2008 competition, which took place on February 9 and February 10 at PETCO Park
in San Diego, California
, was the fourth Cup trophy in the 2007-08 IRB Sevens World Series
.
The top-level Cup competition was won by New Zealand
, who became the first team in the history of the IRB Sevens to win the first four tournaments of a season; it was also the Kiwis'
sixth consecutive tournament win overall. In the Cup semifinal against Kenya
, they made history with their 35th consecutive match win in the IRB Sevens, breaking their own record set in 2001/02. They took the record to 36 with their final win over South Africa
.
The second-level Plate was won by Fiji
in a sudden-death extra time thriller against Argentina
. In the Bowl final, Wales
beat the hosts
in another thriller, in which the USA scored a try after the final horn, but missed the conversion that would have sent the match to extra time. The remaining trophy, the Shield, went to Australia.
USA Sevens
The USA Sevens is an annual rugby sevens tournament held in the United States. A part of the IRB Sevens World Series, it currently takes place on Saturday and Sunday during the second weekend of February...
, with the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
Steinlager
Steinlager
Steinlager is a lager-style beer brewed by Lion Nathan in Newmarket, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It has won several prizes, notably at beer competitions in the United States, and is New Zealand's biggest export beer.- History :In 1957 the New Zealand Minister of Finance, Arnold Nordmeyer...
as the presenting sponsor, is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series
IRB Sevens World Series
The IRB Sevens World Series, known officially as the HSBC Sevens World Series as of the 2010-11 season, through sponsorship from banking group HSBC, and also sometimes called the World Sevens Series, is a series of international rugby union sevens tournaments organised for the first time in the...
for international rugby sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
(seven-a-side version of rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
). The 2008 competition, which took place on February 9 and February 10 at PETCO Park
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
in San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, was the fourth Cup trophy in the 2007-08 IRB Sevens World Series
2007-08 IRB Sevens World Series
The 2007–08 IRB Sevens World Series was the ninth of an annual series of rugby union sevens tournaments for full national sides run by the International Rugby Board since 1999–2000...
.
The top-level Cup competition was won by New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby union team (sevens)
The New Zealand national rugby union sevens team is the New Zealand representative team in rugby union sevens and competes in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-IRB Sevens:...
, who became the first team in the history of the IRB Sevens to win the first four tournaments of a season; it was also the Kiwis'
Kiwi (people)
Kiwi is the nickname used internationally for people from New Zealand, as well as being a relatively common self-reference. The name derives from the kiwi, a flightless bird, which is native to, and the national symbol of, New Zealand...
sixth consecutive tournament win overall. In the Cup semifinal against Kenya
Kenya national rugby union team (sevens)
The Kenya national rugby union sevens team compete in the IRB Sevens World Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens. They are currently one of the 12 "core teams" of the IRB Sevens, with a guaranteed place in all eight events each season....
, they made history with their 35th consecutive match win in the IRB Sevens, breaking their own record set in 2001/02. They took the record to 36 with their final win over South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team (sevens)
The South African national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-Current squad:2011–12 IRB Sevens World Series 14-man squad :#Cecil Afrika...
.
The second-level Plate was won by Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team (sevens)
The Fiji Sevens side is one of the most popular and successful Sevens teams in the world and has won the Hong Kong Sevens a record nine times since its inception in 1976. Fiji has also won the Sevens World Cup twice, winning that event in 1997 and 2005...
in a sudden-death extra time thriller against Argentina
Argentina national rugby union team (sevens)
The Argentina national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens.-Current squad:A 12-man squad for the 2010–11 IRB Sevens World Series:#Santiago Bottini#Francisco Cuneo#Gonzalo Gutierrez Taboada#Francisco Merello...
. In the Bowl final, Wales
Wales national rugby union team (sevens)
The Wales national rugby union sevens team is the international rugby sevens side for Welsh rugby union players. They currently compete in the IRB Sevens World Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens and in the Commonwealth Games....
beat the hosts
United States national rugby union team (sevens)
The United States National Rugby Union Sevens team competes in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens, World Games, and Pan American Games. The Team will also represent the United States in the Summer Olympics beginning in 2016. Under current head coach Al Caravelli the Eagles have...
in another thriller, in which the USA scored a try after the final horn, but missed the conversion that would have sent the match to extra time. The remaining trophy, the Shield, went to Australia.
Pool A
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 0 | 9 | ||
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 31 | 53 | −22 | 5 | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 38 | 65 | −27 | 5 | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 57 | −36 | 5 |
| Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| February 9, 2008 | 19 - 0 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 19 - 12 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 39 - 0 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 12 - 14 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 7 - 26 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 27 - 0 |
Pool B
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 29 | 9 | ||
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 109 | 35 | 7 | ||
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 59 | 46 | 5 | ||
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 144 | −127 | 3 |
| Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| February 9, 2008 | 26 - 7 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 33 - 5 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 66 - 7 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 15 - 7 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 45 - 5 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 17 - 21 |
Pool C
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 31 | 9 | ||
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 69 | 26 | 7 | ||
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 66 | 48 | 5 | ||
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 113 | −106 | 3 |
| Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| February 9, 2008 | 22 - 19 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 38 - 0 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 35 - 0 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 19 - 7 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 40 - 7 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 19 - 12 |
Pool D
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 31 | 9 | ||
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 99 | 14 | 7 | ||
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 73 | 64 | 5 | ||
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 141 | −141 | 3 |
| Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| February 9, 2008 | 36 - 0 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 48 - 0 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 53 - 0 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 28 - 21 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 52 - 0 | ||
| February 9, 2008 | 10 - 14 |