Rio 2016 Olympics: Fiji destroy Great Britain to win historic rugby sevens gold medal

SHUT the banks, shut the whole darn islands. Fiji have an Olympic Games gold medal! The feel good gold arrived when the Pacific Islanders trounced Great Britain in a brutal display of sevens.

Fiji’s Osea Kolinisau scores a try as Britain’s Tom Mitchell defends.

SHUT the banks, shut the whole darn islands.

Fiji have an Olympic Games gold medal!

The feel good gold of Rio 2016 arrived when the Pacific Islanders trounced Great Britain in a brutal display of sevens rugby, delivering a first medal of any hue to the country of fewer than a million.

It’s not just that they won, but the soulful way they go about their business that has delighted the world.

Meanwhile in Fiji! #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/DFeh6bbrHC

— nzherald (@nzherald) August 11, 2016

Prayers, sobs and huge smiles as they headed into action, were all hallmarks of a playing group that’s quite apart from many of the focused and reserved athletes at the Games.

And to think that they do all that despite incredible pressure at home, where a nation has been sweating on this result for literally years.

Fiji’s gold was also a massive victory for rugby sevens’ first appearance at an Olympics.

It was achieved with a thrilling style of play that not only entertained the game’s fans but captivated millions who previously didn’t have a rucking clue about rugby.

THE EXCLUSIVE CLUB THAT FIJI’S SEVENS HEROES JOIN

Couldn't be more happy for the Fiji brothers & Fiji as a country.. First medal ever and it's gold! That's how rugby is meant to be played..

— Quade Cooper (@QuadeCooper) August 11, 2016

Goosebumps watching #Fiji win their first ever medal at the #Olympics. And it's #Gold!! They ARE #Rugby7s. Brilliant! :)

— Stephen Hunter (@StephenJHunter1) August 11, 2016

Absolute jubilation here at #Fiji's first ever #Olympic gold. And first gold for any small Pacific nation. pic.twitter.com/t4KHQiJcC1

— Liam Fox (@liamfoxabc) August 11, 2016

Apisai Domolailai and Viliame Mata of Fiji celebrate as they win gold.

The team celebrated the 43-7 victory by singing their victory hymn, capping a night of incredible emotion.

During the pre-match anthems the deeply spiritual Fijians team belted out their anthem, many with eyes closed or looking at the heavens.

As the game was put beyond doubt of Great Britain there was more prayer and sobbing on the bench and then that wonderful hymn.

Watching the Fiji men's rugby 7 team singing and crying after winning the country's first Olympic medal is so great. #Rio2016

— Justine Lewkowicz (@JustineLewkowic) August 11, 2016

Fiji's gold was one of the most emotional of the #Olympics so far#Fiji #Gold pic.twitter.com/H4bCZuHBNm

— Gulf News Sport (@GulfNewsSport) August 11, 2016

AUSSIE SEVENS REPORT CARD: WHERE IT WENT WRONG

Fiji fans shows their support.

A Pacific Islands regional forum in Suva called pause for the final, and Fiji representatives were joined by officials from all their neighbouring nations in celebrating the gold.

The players will head home after the game for their usual victory ritual.

They’ll sit in a circle and share kava, although coach Ben Ryan, an Englishman, will struggle to enjoy his.

Ben Ryan just confessed on TV that he does not like Kava. Game over. Citizenship revoked. #Fij #Gold #Rugby7s #Rio2016 #Olympics

— iamjonnyking™ (@iamjonnyking) August 11, 2016

Ryan will find a way to celebrate, and he has a place in history after guiding this team of supremely talented giants to the gold.

This is Fiji's 1983 America's Cup moment. #Rio2016

— Beth Newman (@bethknewman) August 11, 2016

The win was feted by Fiji’s rivals as well.

At the Australian Rugby Union headquarters staff watched the game and were, predictably, cheering on the Fijians.

Staff at @ARUhq cheering on Pacific neighbours Fiji! #Rugby7s #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/X7FpLuiDYY

— Patrick Foulkes (@PGFoulkes) August 11, 2016

Other official rugby accounts paid their tributes.

Special congrats to Fiji on their first Olympic medal with a gold in the Men's Rugby Seven's in Rio! #Inspirational pic.twitter.com/WwhRfsIbMN

— NZ Olympic Team (@nzolympics) August 11, 2016

Congratulations to @fijirugby on claiming gold, Fiji's first @Olympics medal!

📷 @WorldRugby7s pic.twitter.com/J9W9ZMuIkv

— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) August 11, 2016

The Fijians’ momentous result saw them feted around the world, becoming Google’s No.1 trending search as Americans jumped on board the story and the exotic game of rugby.

#Rio2016 first for #Fiji https://t.co/9i8QG6Z9bM

— GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) August 11, 2016

Amazing story about how Fiji's rugby team learned the game using plastic bottles and bundled-up shirts as balls https://t.co/bhMXXofER2

— Michelle B. Van Dyke (@michellebvd) August 11, 2016

“Rugby sevens moves at a relentless pace, making it easy to watch without knowing a damn thing about it,” wrote the New Yorker.

“Play rarely stops, and when it does, it quickly restarts. Even if you have no idea why the whistle is blowing, there’s little time to worry about it; thick-necked ruffians will quickly resume slamming into each other.”

Coach Ryan was asked how the celebrations might be going back in Fiji.

“I have no idea, but I think it’s probably already begun,” he said.

It has, and because they’re completely obsessed with this team and this sport, they’re watching it all over again.

In typical Fiji fashion one tv station starts the replay of all of Fiji's matches at #Rio2016 right after the medal presentation.

— Fiji Netball (@FijiNetball) August 11, 2016

On the Gold Coast, Jarryd Hayne, who failed to make the team after a last minute bid, watched the game at training with his NRL club the Titans.

.@GCTitans coach Neil Henry says @JarrydHayne watched #Fiji's historic win on his phone in the sheds, cheering on. pic.twitter.com/9YQXp0QgAY

— Matthew Howard (@MatthewamHoward) August 11, 2016

Hayne will have been thrilled like everyone else with the way Fiji stormed to the gold, showing no fear.

“We were so calm,” he said.

“We were fun in the changing rooms, our warm up was full of enthusiasm and smiling. That’s the best way we play — with a smile on our face.”

On the field, “they played some high-risk rugby and were outstanding,” said Ryan.

“Hopefully we showcased Fijian rugby and everybody who was watching, maybe even the British supporters, can have a smile.”

Fiji’s Osea Kolinisau scores a try as Britain’s Tom Mitchell defends.

RE-LIVE ALL THE ACTION IN OUR BLOG BELOW!

Originally published as Rio 2016 Olympics: Fiji destroy Great Britain to win historic rugby sevens gold medal