Talofa, Ma’lelei, bula and Welcome to Season 05 Episode 49 of Breakfast Bites by TeivovoSports.com – a wrap of Pasifika people’s sports news on a partly cloudy but bright Monday morning 22 May 2023.

Coming to you with tons of hanisi from the 180th meridian, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

In rugby: Argentina won the HSBC London 7s - their third gold medal of the HSBC World Rugby 7s Series 2023, easily beating Fiji 14-35 in the final after one of the Fijian players Batirerega was red-carded in the second minute.

Australia qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 and Canada defeated Kenya to retain HSBC World Rugby 7s Series core status next season.

In the Semifinals, Argentina pipped Samoa 7-10 and Fiji stopped New Zealand 17-19. In the Cup Quarters: Argentina 28-14 Ireland, Samoa 12-5 Great Britain, Fiji 19-5 Australia and NZ 19-17 France.

More on rugby 7s in “Background Buzz” at the end of this podcast.

In rugby league: NSW Blues Coach, Brad Fittler has reportedly made the huge call to pick Wests Tigers Hooker Api Koroisau and leave Eels star Damien Cook out of his side.

Fiji Bati, Koroisau will wear the No. 9 jersey and instead of carrying a second rake on the bench, Nicho Hynes will make his debut slotting into the No. 14 spot - according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Bulldogs speedster Josh “The Foxx” Addo-Carr and Newcastle Knights Tongan enforcer Tyson Frizell have both earned recalls.

While across the border, Jai Arrow and Thomas Flegler are set to earn Maroons recalls for ORIGIN I as Queensland sweat on the availability of star forwards Felise Kaufusi and Tino Fa’asuamalea’ui who is hopeful of avoiding a suspension after two incidents in the Titans’ loss to the Bulldogs, but Kaufusi faces an uphill battle after his swinging arm to the head of Christian Welch.

In football: Okay so Man City has won the English Premier League and Arsenal finish second, Newcastle, in third and fourth-placed Man U are both three points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool, who have only one game left.

Newcastle can seal their spot with a draw or win against Leicester on Monday or Chelsea next Sunday.

Man U can secure the lucrative top four place against Chelsea on Thursday or against Fulham next weekend, with Liverpool now likely to have to settle for a place in the Europa League.

In SportsBiz: A study just out, finds that golf had a US$101.7Billion direct impact on the American economy in 2022 — a 20% increase from the last study in 2016.

Golf participation has reached 41.1 million people — approximately one in seven Americans and a 28% increase from 2016. Of that 41.1 million, almost half were between six and 34 years old.

Finally in boxing: Devin Haney now 30-0, defended his World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization Lightweight World titles against former three-division champion, Vasiliy Lomachenko with a unanimous decision, winning 116-112 and two judges scored it 115-113 in Las Vegas yesterday.

Earlier on, Aussie fighter Andrew Moloney was brutally knocked out with just 18 seconds left in the 12th round of his Junior Bantamweight World title fight against undefeated Japanese knockout artist Junto Nakatani, who flattened Moloney with a thundering left hand.

Okay sports fans, on “Background Buzz” today I take a closer look at the Award Winners of the HSBC World Rugby 7s Series 2023, where New Zealand won their 14th Series title, Australia secured the final Olympic Games 2024 automatic qualification spot and Canada qualified for the HSBC World Rugby 7s Series 2024 as the 12th and final core team.

Aside from the Capgemini Hotstepper Award, where the nominees were voted by fans on social media, the outstanding performers of the 2023 Series, selected by the World Rugby 7s Series Awards panel, comprising former international 7s players and Series commentators are as follows:

Rookie of the Year: Ricardo Duarttee (South Africa)
Duarttee made his Series debut for South Africa 7s in Dubai 2023, winning a cup final in his inaugural event.

The 25-year-old played in 52 games this season, scoring 15 tries, 67 conversions and one penalty for an incredible 212 points in his debut season.

Gilbert Top Try-scorer: Va’a Apelu Maliko (Samoa)
Maliko scored an incredible 50 tries across the 11 HSBC World Rugby 7s Series 2023, averaging 4.06 points per game in 62 games this season, finishing the Series with 252 points.

Try of the Series: Rodrigo Isgro Argentina v Samoa in Los Angeles
For his try against Samoa in Los Angeles. Isgro also played a key role in Los Pumas 7s winning tournaments in Hamilton, Vancouver and London, finishing a best-ever second place on the 2023 Series.

DHL Impact Player: Va’a Apelu Maliko (Samoa)
For 41 breaks, 122 tackles, 55 offloads and 214 carries throughout the 11 tournaments.

Fair Play Award: Japan
This Award is selected by the Match Officials and recognises Japan for showcasing rugby’s values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect.

Reminds me of the Fiji Rugby Union.

HSBC Dream Team 2023:
Rodrigo Isgro (Argentina), Leroy Carter (New Zealand), Marcos Moneta (Argentina), Akuila Rokolisoa (New Zealand), Vaa Apelu Maliko (Samoa), Luciano Gonzalez (Argentina) and Henry Paterson (Australia)

Capgemini #Hotstepper Award: Akuila Rokolisoa and Roderick Solo (New Zealand)
This Award recognises the most exceptional one-on-one steppers throughout the entire HSBC World Rugby 7s Series 2023.

And that’s a wrap!

For TeivovoSports.com I’m Culden Kamea – please hit the like and subscribe buttons below if you want to receive more Pasifika sports highlights on Breakfast Bites.

Mahalo, vina’a and tank you all too mass for all your love and support.

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