Fiji edged out France 21-12 in a thrilling final to sign off the Singapore leg of the HSBC SVNS in typically dramatic fashion.
The French fought hard throughout but it was Fijian flair that won the day as they capped a brilliant weekend in style.
Final: Fiji conjure latest comeback win to take gold
France charged into a 12-0 interval lead with tries from Jordan Sepho and Paulin Riva.
But Fiji, blessed with so many attacking options, steadied themselves and roared back to take the title.
Viwa Naduvalo, Kavekini Tanivanuakula and Pilipo Bukayaro were their try-heroes as Fiji scored 21 points without reply.
Player of the match Naduvalo said: “First of all I want to thank the Lord Almighty for giving us the victory.
“Credit to the boys for giving their effort – we work together as a unit and we came up with the ‘W’.”
It was Fiji’s first title of the season but their second in a row in Singapore, a city they enjoy playing in.
Naduvalo added: “I made my debut here, so it’s like playing at home.
“Yes, Singapore is a great place to play.”
Captain Jeremaia Matana echoed his team-mate’s sentiments after their third comeback win of the weekend, following previous successes over South Africa and New Zealand.
An emotional Matana said: “It’s amazing and I want to give the glory and honour to the Man above.
“I’m so happy and proud of the boys. We came back strongly and I want to thank the boys for their hard work.”
Bronze final: Manson magic secures third spot for New Zealand
New Zealand beat South Africa 14-12 in the third place play-off courtesy of Michael Manson’s brilliant winning try.
Rising star Kele Lasaqa, 19, put New Zealand in front with some delightful footwork but the Blitzboks hit back with scores from Tristan Leyds and Shilton van Wyk.
That put them 12-7 ahead but Manson scored a stunning individual effort, collecting his deft chip over the South African defence and racing 80 metres to touch down inside the left channel.
Riley Williams added the conversion to a try worthy of winning any game as the All Blacks Sevens edged the victory.
Fiji beat New Zealand 21-14 in the first blockbuster semi-final after spectacularly coming from 14-0 down in an exhilaratingly high-tempo encounter.
New Zealand wasted no time in stamping their authority on proceedings as converted tries from Frank Vaenuku and Brady Rush appeared to have put them in control.
Fiji steadied themselves and replied through Joseva Talacola and Viwa Naduvalo to level the scores at 14-14 before Naduvalo’s second sealed the win.
A titanic second semi-final between France and South Africa saw the French prevail 12-5 and reach their first final of the season.
Paulin Riva and Simon Desert put France in control before the Blitzboks hit back through Christie Grobbelaar to ensure a tense finish.
Spain and Argentina met in the first of the fifth-place semi-finals and it was the former whose class told in a 26-12 win as they beat Los Pumas 7s for the third successive Sevens game.
Jeremy Trevithick scored a clinical hat-trick for the Spanish and Juan Ramos was also on target, while Argentina’s tries came from Marcos Moneta’s brace.
It was a disappointing day for an Argentina side who suffered three losses on Saturday and who came second in Cape Town just a fortnight ago.
Australia made their class pay with an entertaining 26-19 win over a Great Britain side who battled gamely throughout before succumbing to Henry Hutchison’s last-gasp try.
William Cartwright, Dietrich Roache and Josh Turner scored for Australia with Matt Davidson, Callum Woolley and skipper Charlton Kerr touching down for Great Britain.
And with the scores level at 19-19, Hutchison burst clear to score and send his country through to the fifth-place play-off.
In the fifth place play-off, Australia’s class told as they beat Spain 19-5.
The prolific Jeremy Trevithick opened the scoring but Australia soon gained control to win comfortably with tries from Dietrich Roache, Aden Ekanayake and master craftsman Henry Hutchison.
Argentina sealed victory over Great Britain in the seventh place play-off with a hard-fought 14-10 victory.
Luciano Gonzalez and Marcos Moneta scored their tries, both of which were converted, with Marcus Kershaw and Callum Woolley touching down for Great Britain.