Gary Meenaghan is our man in Rio, and he has the first-hand account of how rugby — in the sport's return to the Olympics for the first time in 92 years — is a big hit among fans at the Olympics. The sevens event — won by The National cover men from Fiji — has brought a boisterous, colourful variety of fans usually reserved in Brazil for Carnival, Meenaghan writes:
“ ... With tickets for the final day long sold-out, an atmosphere billed by some as the best at the Games and Fiji providing a rags-to-riches tale rarely seen in world sport, the return of rugby could hardly have gone better for organisers.”
Paul Radley, The National’s rugby reporter, talked to local players with ties to Fiji, who stayed up long into the night to watch their country’s victory.
“The players are superstars in Fiji, everyone looks up to them and they have been under a lot of pressure,” former Abu Dhabi Harlequins coach Jeremy Manning said. “I couldn’t be more proud to be associated with coaching a team that won an Olympic gold medal.”
Stick with The National for more on The Olympics throughout the Games.
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