• Phil Burgess (England): England’s run of successes in Dubai down the year has been founded on the excellence of the forwards they bring with them to the UAE. James Rodwell, the player of the tournament when they won in 2010, was back again, along with Alex Gray, England’s player of the season. Both were eclipsed, though, by the rampaging Burgess, who made 12 tackles and 18 carries over the weekend. AFP PHOTO / KARIM SAHIB
    Phil Burgess (England): England’s run of successes in Dubai down the year has been founded on the excellence of the forwards they bring with them to the UAE. James Rodwell, the player of the tournament when they won in 2010, was back again, along with Alex Gray, England’s player of the season. Both were eclipsed, though, by the rampaging Burgess, who made 12 tackles and 18 carries over the weekend. AFP PHOTO / KARIM SAHIB
  • Dan Bibby (England): Bibby made 17 tackles, 16 carries, and scored four tries in Dubai, to underline his importance to the eventual runners up. “He is a super, tough player, he has so much to his game,” Simon Amor, the England coach, said. “He tackles with his heart and his head. He can step, he has great awareness, he can kick - he can do it all. He is a great person to have.” Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
    Dan Bibby (England): Bibby made 17 tackles, 16 carries, and scored four tries in Dubai, to underline his importance to the eventual runners up. “He is a super, tough player, he has so much to his game,” Simon Amor, the England coach, said. “He tackles with his heart and his head. He can step, he has great awareness, he can kick - he can do it all. He is a great person to have.” Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
  • Jerry Tuwai (Fiji): It is often tricky to pick an outstanding player in this Fiji team. In their first match of the tournament, against Canada, they scored nine tries, yet nobody scored more than one. Similar happened in the final: four tries, four different scorers. Tuwai, though, is their creative inspiration. He has a captivating story, too, having learnt rugby on a roundabout, and been unemployed before he was picked for Fiji. AFP PHOTO / KARIM SAHIB
    Jerry Tuwai (Fiji): It is often tricky to pick an outstanding player in this Fiji team. In their first match of the tournament, against Canada, they scored nine tries, yet nobody scored more than one. Similar happened in the final: four tries, four different scorers. Tuwai, though, is their creative inspiration. He has a captivating story, too, having learnt rugby on a roundabout, and been unemployed before he was picked for Fiji. AFP PHOTO / KARIM SAHIB
  • Vatemo Ravouvou (Fiji): Amor said in the aftermath of the final defeat that he was happy his England side had got close to their opponents, given how many world-class players Fiji have. Not all of them have the profile to go with it, though. For all the gilded skills of the pair of Tuwais and Osea Kolinisau, the captain, Ravouvou was their busiest defender, making the tournament high 18 tackles. AFP PHOTO / MARWAN NAAMANI
    Vatemo Ravouvou (Fiji): Amor said in the aftermath of the final defeat that he was happy his England side had got close to their opponents, given how many world-class players Fiji have. Not all of them have the profile to go with it, though. For all the gilded skills of the pair of Tuwais and Osea Kolinisau, the captain, Ravouvou was their busiest defender, making the tournament high 18 tackles. AFP PHOTO / MARWAN NAAMANI
  • Perry Baker (United States): Given how raw Baker is, the confidence he showed in finishing the decisive try in the pool win over New Zealand to earn a place in the knock-out stages was remarkable. “People forget, Perry is a crossover athlete, but he has done five years behind closed doors,” Mike Friday, the United States coach, said. “He is starting to understand how to manipulate defenders.” Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images
    Perry Baker (United States): Given how raw Baker is, the confidence he showed in finishing the decisive try in the pool win over New Zealand to earn a place in the knock-out stages was remarkable. “People forget, Perry is a crossover athlete, but he has done five years behind closed doors,” Mike Friday, the United States coach, said. “He is starting to understand how to manipulate defenders.” Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images
  • Zack Test (United States): The bravura United States side, who are on such a sharp ascent in sevens, have more flair than the 1970s. That panache is perfectly complemented by the perspiration provided by Test. As the longest serving player in the team, he will have enjoyed the pair of wins over New Zealand, given the USA had lost their previous 28 against that opposition, even though he took a smack on the head for his efforts. Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images
    Zack Test (United States): The bravura United States side, who are on such a sharp ascent in sevens, have more flair than the 1970s. That panache is perfectly complemented by the perspiration provided by Test. As the longest serving player in the team, he will have enjoyed the pair of wins over New Zealand, given the USA had lost their previous 28 against that opposition, even though he took a smack on the head for his efforts. Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images

Rugby

Team of the Tournament for Dubai Rugby Sevens – in pictures

Rob Gurdebeke

December 06, 2015

  • English
  • Arabic

Fiji ran past England to secure the men's Cup title at the Dubai Rugby Sevens on Saturday at The Sevens while USA topped New Zealand for third place.

Paul Radley selects the men who led the way for their respective squads as he selects the Team of the Tournament.

Click on the arrows below to scroll through the photos.

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