RCT’s new nugget wins Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

After Josua Tuisova in Rio in 2016, RC Toulon has a new Olympic champion: Jiuta Wainiqolo (22), three-quarter versatile center, shone again, Wednesday at Tokyo Stadium, with Fiji, already crowned in Brazil.

The Pacific players won another gold medal by beating, in the final of the Olympic Sevens rugby tournament, New Zealand (27-12), reigning world champion, Argentina winning bronze.

And the future Toulon player, author of a sensational essay, burst the screen. He distinguished himself by a sublime solitary rush from the second minute (12-0).

A whimsical rugby

Starting just in front of the center line, Wainiqolo decided not to take advantage of the excess on the outside, and preferred to play it solo by making his supports and his fire rods speak.

From a double framing-overflow, he grilled two New Zealand defenders, before resisting their defensive returns to flatten the ball under the posts. A sublime achievement.

The former Fidjian Drua player, who scored the competition’s first try, was making his fourth achievement in the Olympic tournament. And with such enthusiasm, the Toulon nugget, a superb find from Patrice Collazo and his staff, sent back a sparkling image.

That, in fact, of Fiji, advocating a more whimsical rugby, with players flying on the field.

Logically leading to the break (19-5), Semi Radradra’s teammates then drove home a superb counter-attack, concluded with a try from Tuivuaka (24-12) and confirmed with a penalty in the last seconds of Nacuqu ( 27-12).

After their victory, the Fijians, knees on the ground and entwined in a circle on the lawn, recited a prayer before receiving their gold medal and singing in chorus on the podium.

This medal “was eagerly awaited, all Fijians thought only of victory, today is a great day for our country”, explained Captain Jerry Tuwai.

This is the first Fijian medal at the Tokyo Games.

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