Loughborough’s Phil Burgess wins silver in rugby 7s at Rio

Fiji had to look out for Burgess’ big tackles


Team GB faced Fiji last night in the men’s rugby sevens finals and Loughborough’s very own Phil Burgess won silver.

The semi-final was an intense knockout match with South Africa, where Team GB secured a place in the final against Fiji. The referee allowed one final South Africa line out, giving them one point the score was neck and neck and the clock was approaching full time.

Team GB turned it over to Dan Bibby whose kick ending the game, launching the ball into the stands scenes of celebration spread across the stadium. Great Britain converted a try in the second stanza, and the result ended at 43-7.

Tom Mitchell, who also plays rugby for Team GB and goes to Bristol, said: “It was right that the team that plays such wonderful rugby got the gold medal.”

Great Britain coach Simon Amor said. “When these Fijian guys are on form, they’re untouchable. They saved their best to the very end, breath-taking rugby.”

Fiji’s victory came down to planned tactics to beat Burgess’ quick and swift techniques, with Fijian coach Ben Ryan said: “James Davies and Phil Burgess getting us to the floor where they were causing mayhem over the last few days. We had to stay on our feet, keep the ball alive and hit them hard.”