2019 USA Sevens

The 2019 USA Sevens (also sometimes referred to as the 2019 Las Vegas Sevens) is the sixteenth edition of the USA Sevens tournament, and the sixth tournament of the 2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series.^[1] The tournament was played March 1–3, 2019 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

2019 USA Sevens
Sevens World Series XX
Host nation	United States
Date	1–3 March 2019
Cup
Champion	United States
Runner-up	Samoa
Third	New Zealand
Tournament details
Matches played	45
Tries scored	262 (average 5.82 per match)
Most points	Nathan Hirayama (53)
Most tries	Carlin Isles (8)
← 2018 2020 →

In January 2019, it was reported that the 2019 USA Sevens would be the last in Las Vegas, with the event moving to an unknown city starting from 2020. Possible options are San Diego, which had been home to the USA Sevens before it moved to Las Vegas; San Francisco, which hosted the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens; and Miami in Florida. Among the reported reasons included the uncertain status of Sam Boyd Stadium with the upcoming stadium not due to be ready until summer 2020, poor living environment at the team hotels (the stadium is far distant from the main tourist area of the Las Vegas Strip), and safety concerns due to an unusually narrow pitch with team benches very close to the touchlines (Sam Boyd Stadium is built for American football, a sport with a playing field about 20 metres narrower than a standard rugby pitch). The stadium's normal pitch is artificial turf, which raised even more safety concerns in the early years of the event's run in Las Vegas, but temporary grass pitches were used in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 events.^[2]

Format

The teams are drawn into four pools of four teams each. Each team plays every other team in their pool once. The top two teams from each pool advance to the Cup bracket where teams compete for the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals. The bottom two teams from each group go to the Challenge Trophy bracket.

Teams

Fifteen core teams played in the tournament along with one invitational team, the winner of the 2019 Sudamérica Rugby Sevens, Chile:^[3]

•  Argentina
•  Australia
•  Canada
•  Chile
•  England
•  Fiji
•  France
•  Japan
•  Kenya
•  New Zealand
•  Samoa
•  Scotland
•  South Africa
•  Spain
•  United States
•  Wales

Pool stage

All times in Pacific Standard Time (UTC−08:00). The pools were scheduled as follows:^[4]

Pool A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
New Zealand	3	3	0	0	85	26	+59	9
Samoa	3	2	0	1	52	73	−21	7
Spain	3	0	1	2	40	57	−17	4
Canada	3	0	1	2	50	71	−21	4

1 March 2019 15:44

Spain	12–12	Canada
Try: Alonso 1'm Fontes 10'c Con: Hernández (1/2) 11'		Try: Braid 4'm Cejvanovic 14'c Con: Hirayama (1/2) 14'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)

1 March 2019 16:06

New Zealand	33–0	Samoa
Try: Ware (2) 3', 4' Molia (2) 6'c, 11'c Baker 7'm Con: Koroi (3/4) 3', 4', 7' Rokolisoa (1/1) 11'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)

1 March 2019 18:45

Spain	21–26	Samoa
Try: Sainz-Trapaga 3'c Alonso 8'c Mateu 13'c Con: Hernández (1/1) 3', 9', 14'		Try: Solia 3'c Afamasaga 4'c Alofipo 10'c Samuelu 12'm Con: Mealoi (3/3) 4', 5', 10' Alofipo (0/1)

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)

1 March 2019 19:07

New Zealand	33–19	Canada
Try: Rokolisoa 0' Ravouvou 6'c Mikkelson (2) 7'c, 10'm Nareki 9'c Con: Rokolisoa (4/4) 1', 6', 8', 9' Koroi (0/1)		Try: McCloskey 3'm Fuailefau 7'c Jones 14'c Con: Hirayama (2/3) 7', 14'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

2 March 2019 12:14

Canada	19–26	Samoa
Try: McCloskey 5' Hirayama (2) 8'c, 11'm Con: Hirayama (2/3) 6', 8'		Try: Alofipo (2) 0'm, 3'c Vaili 7'c Motuga 12'c Con: Mealoi (2/3) 4', 7' Paulo (1/1)13'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Jérémy Rozier (France)

2 March 2019 12:36

New Zealand	19–7	Spain
Try: Ravouvou 0'c Koroi 4'c Dickson 11'm Con: Koroi (2/2) 1', 5' Baker (0/1)		Try: Mateu 10'c Con: Mateu (1/1) 10'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)

Pool B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
United States	3	2	0	1	69	46	+23	7
Argentina	3	2	0	1	62	63	−1	7
France	3	1	0	2	56	43	+13	5
Kenya	3	1	0	2	41	76	−35	5

1 March 2019 16:28

France	15–17	Argentina
Try: Laugel 10'm Barraque 12'm Mignot 14'm Con: Barraque (0/3)		Try: Mare 1'm Etchart 6'c Con: Mare (1/2) 6' Bazan Velez (0/1)

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)

1 March 2019 16:50

United States	26–10	Kenya
Try: Isles (2) 2'm, 5'c Tomasin 8'c Hughes 11'c Con: Hughes (3/4) 5', 9', 11'		Try: Ojee 6'm Onyala 13'm Con: Taabu (0/2)

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)

1 March 2019 19:29

France	31–7	Kenya
Try: Riva 4'm Barraque 6'c Parez 8'c Laugel 12'c O'Connor 13'm Con: Barraque (3/5) 7', 9', 12'		Try: Onyala 10'c Con: Taabu (1/1) 11'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Francisco González (Uruguay)

1 March 2019 19:51

United States	24–26	Argentina
Try: Isles (2) 0'm, 11' Iosefo 3'c Tomasin 7'c Con: Hughes (2/4) 4', 7'		Try: Bazan Velez 5'c Barbier 8'm Luna 10'c Gonzalez 14' Con: Bazan Velez (1/1) 6' Mare (2/3) 11', 14'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)

2 March 2019 12:58

Argentina	19–24	Kenya
Try: Mare 2'm Provenzano 3'c Ulloa 9'c Con: Mare (1/2) 4' Ulloa (1/1) 10'		Try: Kuto (2) 5'm, 10' Ojee 7'c Taabu 8'c Con: Taabu (2/4) 7', 8'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

2 March 2019 13:20

United States	19–10	France
Try: Pinkelman 4'm Iosefo (2) 7'c, 7' Con: Hughes (2/3) 7', 8'		Try: Deghmache 10'm Mazzoleni 12'm Con: Barraque (0/2)

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)

Pool C

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
South Africa	3	2	1	0	60	17	+43	8
England	3	2	0	1	65	41	+24	7
Japan	3	1	0	2	31	64	−33	5
Chile	3	0	1	2	12	46	−34	4

1 March 2019 17:12

South Africa	26–0	Japan
Try: Du Preez 6'c Visser 7'm Davids 11'c Ndlhlovu 14'c Con: Du Preez (1/2) 6' Davids (2/2) 11', 14'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Francisco González (Uruguay)

1 March 2019 17:34

England	22–0	Chile
Try: Burgess (2) 0'm, 6'm Olowofela 2'c Edwards 13'm Con: Bibby (1/3) 3' Edwards (0/1)

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Jérémy Rozier (France)

1 March 2019 20:13

South Africa	5–5	Chile
Try: Du Preez 3'm Con: Du Preez (0/1)		Try: De Vidts 10'm Con: Fernández (0/1)

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)

1 March 2019 20:35

England	31–12	Japan
Try: Norton (3) 4'c, 7'm, 8'c Muir 5'm de Carpentier 10'c Con: Edwards (2/4) 5', 8' Mitchell (1/1) 11'		Try: Lisala 1'm Ozawa 13'c Con: Nakazawa (1/1) 13' Goya (0/1)

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)

2 March 2019 13:48

Japan	19–7	Chile
Try: Ozawa 2'm Koyama 7'c Ishida 13'c Con: Nakazawa (1/1) 8' Fujita (1/1) 13' Hayashi (0/1)		Try: Verschae 5'c Con: Fernández (1/1) 6'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Francisco González (Uruguay)

2 March 2019 14:10

England	12–29	South Africa
Try: Bowen 5'm Kerr 12'c Con: Edwards (1/2) 13'		Try: Snyman 1'm Soyizwapi 7'm Geduld 8'c Pretorius 10' Davids 14'c Con: Du Preez (1/3) 9' Davids (1/2) 14'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)

Pool D

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Australia	3	3	0	0	76	27	+49	9
Fiji	3	2	0	1	84	52	+32	7
Scotland	3	1	0	2	43	74	−31	5
Wales	3	0	0	3	28	78	−50	3

1 March 2019 15:00

Australia	26–0	Wales
Try: Holland 1'c Quinn 6' Hutchison 8'c Porch 10'c Con: Porch (3/3) 1', 8', 10'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

1 March 2019 15:22

Fiji	36–12	Scotland
Try: Nacuqu (2) 1'm, 7'c Botitu (2) 3'm, 12'm Veilawa (2) 7'c, 14'c Con: Nacuqu (1/3) 7' Veilawa (2/3) 8', 14'		Try: McFarland 6'c Fergusson 10'm Con: Lowe (1/2) 6'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)

1 March 2019 18:01

Australia	24–12	Scotland
Try: Hutchison 1'm Skelton 6'c Porch (2) 7'c, 12'm Con: Holland (1/1) 6' Porch (1/3) 7'		Try: McFarland 2'c Lowe 4'm Con: Lowe (1/2) 2'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)

1 March 2019 18:23

Fiji	33–14	Wales
Try: Kunavula 1'm Tuwai 4'c Nacuqu 6'c Naduva 7'c Dranisinukula 9'c Con: Botitu (1/1) 5' Nacuqu (2/3) 6', 7' Veilawa (1/1) 10'		Try: Devine (2) 3'c, 12'c Con: Treharne (1/1) 3' Davies (1/1) 12'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Jérémy Rozier (France)

2 March 2019 11:30

Wales	14–19	Scotland
Try: Roach 2'c Devine 9'c Con: Davies (2/2) 2', 10'		Try: Farndale (2) 4'm, 12'c Lowe 6'c Con: Lowe (1/2) 7' Fergusson (1/1) 13'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)

2 March 2019 11:52

Fiji	15–26	Australia
Try: Tuwai 2'm Dranisinukula 10'm Veilawa 11'm Con: Veilawa (0/2) Botitu (0/1)		Try: Skelton 1'c O'Donnell 5'm Kennewell 7' Holland 13' Con: Porch (2/3) 2', 14' Holland (1/1) 8'

Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)

Knockout stage

Thirteenth place

	Semi-finals				Final
	3 March 2019 – 11:00 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
	Wales	31
					3 March 2019 – 13:56 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
	Japan	14
					Wales	12
	3 March 2019 – 11:22 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
					Canada	21
	Canada	28
	France	12

Matches

Semifinals 3 March 2019 11:00 Wales  31–14  Japan Try: Davies 4'c Goodchild 5'c Roach 8'm Rogers 10'm Lewis 13'c Con: Davies (3/5) 4', 6', 14' Try: Motomura 7'c Ishida 12'c Con: Hayashi (1/1) 7' Fujita (1/1) 12' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Francisco González (Uruguay) 3 March 2019 11:22 Canada  28–12  France Try: McCloskey 3'c Mullins 7'c Hirayama 13'c Jones 14'c Con: Hirayama (2/2) 3', 7', 13', 14' Try: Lakafia 8'c Barraque 11'm Con: Barraque (1/1) 8' Parez (0/1) Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal) Final 3 March 2019 13:56 Wales  12–21  Canada Try: Gasson 11'c Rogers 14' Con: Treharne (1/1) 11' Try: Hirayama (2) 0'c, 12'c Fuailefau 7'c Con: Hirayama (3/3) 1', 7', 13' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)

Challenge Trophy

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	2 March 2019 – 16:08 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
	Spain	19
					3 March 2019 – 11:44 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
	Wales	7
					Spain	24
	2 March 2019 – 16:30 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
					Kenya	7
	Japan	15
									3 March 2019 – 15:10 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
	Kenya	28
									Spain	14
	2 March 2019 – 16:52 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
									Scotland	15
	Scotland	21
					3 March 2019 – 12:06 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
	Canada	19
					Scotland	17
	2 March 2019 – 17:14 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
					Chile	5
	France	12
	Chile	17

Matches

Quarterfinals 2 March 2019 16:08 Spain  19–7  Wales Try: Alonso 3'm Fontes 7'c Mateu 11'c Con: Hernández (2/3) 7', 11' Try: Roach 8'c Con: Treharne (1/1) 9' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Francisco González (Uruguay) 2 March 2019 16:30 Japan  15–28  Kenya Try: Lisala 0'm Motomura 3'm Soejima 5' Con: Hayashi (0/2) Try: Kuto 2'c Onyala (2) 8'c, 12'c Mwale 11'c Con: Taabu (3/3) 2', 8', 11', 13' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal) 2 March 2019 16:52 Scotland  21–19  Canada Try: Fergusson 1'c McFarland (2) 7'c, 11'c Con: Lowe (2/2) 1', 7' Fergusson (1/1) 12' Try: Thiel 6'm Braid 8'c Jones 13'c Con: Hirayama (2/3) 8', 14' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina) 2 March 2019 17:14 France  12–17  Chile Try: Bonnefond 7'm Barraque 12'c Con: Barraque (1/2) 12' Try: Brangier 1'm Verschae 10'c Metuaze 11'm Con: Fernández (1/2) Neira (0/1) Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland) Semifinals 3 March 2019 11:44 Spain  24–7  Kenya Try: Rodriguez-Guerra 1'c Carrión (2) 4'm, 8'c Fontes 11'm Con: Hernández (2/4) 1', 9' Try: Mwale 5'c Con: Taabu (1/1) 6' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland) 3 March 2019 12:06 Scotland  17–5  Chile Try: Fergusson 6'c McFarland 7'm Elms 13' Con: Fergusson (1/2) 6' Elms (0/1) Try: De Vidts 3' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Jordan Way (Australia) Final 3 March 2019 15:10 Spain  14–15  Scotland Try: Mateu 2'c Losada 12'c Con: Mateu (2/2) 2', 13' Try: Coombes 7'm Pecqueur 9'm Farndale 14'm Con: Fergusson (0/2) Lowe (0/1) Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Jérémy Rozier (France)

5th place

	Semi-finals				Final
	3 March 2019 – 12:28 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
	Fiji	14
					3 March 2019 – 15:35 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
	South Africa	12
					Fiji	14
	3 March 2019 – 12:50 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
					England	19
	Australia	14
	England	33

Matches

Semifinals 3 March 2019 12:28 Fiji  14–12  South Africa Try: Vakurunabili 0'c Nasoko 6'c Con: Botitu (2/2) 1', 7' Try: Oosthuizen 3'm Pretorius 10'c Con: Davids (1/1) 10' Du Preez (0/1) Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Jérémy Rozier (France) 3 March 2019 12:50 Australia  14–33  England Try: McNamara 1'c Hutchison 4'c Con: Porch (2/2) 2', 5' Try: Norton 3'c Edwards 6'c Muir (2) 7'c, 9'c Olowofela 12' Con: Edwards (4/5) 3', 6', 8', 10' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina) Final 3 March 2019 15:35 Fiji  15–19  England Try: Tuwai 3'm Naduva 5'm Veilawa 11' Con: Botitu (0/3) Try: Muir 1'c Olowofela 12'c Kerr 14' Con: Mitchell (1/1) 1', 13' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)

Cup

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	2 March 2019 – 17:46 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
	New Zealand	19
					3 March 2019 – 13:12 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
	Fiji	14
					New Zealand	19
	2 March 2019 – 18:08 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
					United States	24
	South Africa	10
									3 March 2019 – 16:30 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
	United States	29
									United States	27
	2 March 2019 – 18:30 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
									Samoa	0
	Australia	20
					3 March 2019 – 13:34 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
	Samoa	21
					Samoa	33
	2 March 2019 – 18:52 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
					Argentina	19			Third place
	Argentina	26 (a.e.t.)
									3 March 2019 – 16:00 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
	England	21
									New Zealand	26
									Argentina	19

Matches

Quarterfinals 2 March 2019 17:46 New Zealand  19–14  Fiji Try: Molia (2) 2'm, 9'c Baker 11'c Con: Baker (2/2) 10', 12' Koroi (0/1) Try: Tuwai (2) 4'c, 8'c Con: Botitu (2/2) 5', 8' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Jordan Way (Australia) 2 March 2019 18:08 South Africa  10–29  United States Try: Pretorius 12'm Gans 13'm Con: Davids (0/2) Try: Barrett 1'm Tomasin 3'c Iosefo 5'c Isles 8'm Leuta 9'm Con: Hughes (2/5) 4', 6' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Richard Kelly (New Zealand) 2 March 2019 18:30 Australia  20–21  Samoa Try: Porch 1'm McNamara 7'm Ben O'Donnell 9'm Kennewell 13'm Con: Porch (0/4) Try: Vaili 3'c Perez 5'c Asofolau 11'c Con: Mealoi (2/2) 3', 6' Paulo (1/1) 11' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Jérémy Rozier (France) 2 March 2019 18:52 Argentina  26–21 (a.e.t.)  England Try: Mare 0'c Penalty Try 7' Luna 10'c Con: Mare (2/2) 1', 10' Try: Burgess 4'c Olowofela 11'c Bowen 14'c Con: Mitchell (3/3) 4', 12', 14' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Craig Evans (Wales) Semifinals 3 March 2019 13:12 New Zealand  19–24  United States Try: Molia 0'c Baker 4'm Mikkelson 9'c Con: Baker (1/2) 0', 9' Try: Niua 5'c Isles (3) 7'c, 7'm, 14' Con: Hughes (2/3) 6', 7' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Craig Evans (Wales) 3 March 2019 13:34 Samoa  33–19  Argentina Try: Afamasaga 0'c Vaili 2' Solia 3' Asofolau 7'c Motuga 11'c Con: Mealoi (4/5) 0', 2', 8', 11' Try: Ulloa (2) 5'm, 12' Florio 14'c Con: Ulloa (2/2) 13', 14' Mare (0/1) Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Richard Kelly (New Zealand) Third Place 3 March 2019 16:00 New Zealand  26–19  Argentina Try: Ravouvou 0'c Ng Shiu 11'm Molia 12'c, 13'c Con: Baker (1/1) 0' Koroi (2/3) 12', 13' Try: Etchart 1'c Schulz (2) 7'c, 9'm Con: Mare (1/2) 2' Ulloa (1/1) 7' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Jordan Way (Australia) Final 3 March 2019 16:30 United States  27–0  Samoa Try: Pinkelman (2) 1'm, 12' Leuta 3'm Hughes 7'c Brown 14' Con: Hughes (1/4) 8' Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas Referee: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)

Tournament placings

Place	Team	Points
	United States	22
	Samoa	19
	New Zealand	17
4	Argentina	15
5	England	13
6	Fiji	12
7	Australia	10
	South Africa	10
9	Scotland	8
10	Spain	7
11	Chile	5
	Kenya	5
13	Canada	3
14	Wales	2
15	France	1
	Japan	1

Source: World Rugby

Players

Scoring leaders

Tries scored

Rank	Player	Tries
1	Carlin Isles	8
2	Sione Molia	7
3	Jerry Tuwai	5
	Max McFarland
	Nathan Hirayama

Points scored

Rank	Player	Points
1	Nathan Hirayama	53
2	Carlin Isles	40
3	John Porch	36
4	Sione Molia	35
5	Madison Hughes	34

Source: World Rugby

Dream Team

The following seven players were selected to the tournament Dream Team at the conclusion of the tournament:^[5]

Forwards	Backs
David Afamasaga Stephen Tomasin Ben Pinkelman	Sione Molia Martin Iosefo Jerry Tuwai Carlin Isles