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In an all-Fijian finale, the South Sea Drifters ran out winners over domestic rivals Uprising Beach Resort in a hard fought Cup final at the Hyperion Gold Coast International 7s.

It was the Uprising who got the better start though thanks to a Waisea Vuidravuwalu score early on. Ropate Filipe Turagayawa’s conversion gave the Uprising team a 7-0 lead, with an upset on the cards. 

But the Drifters experience and Sevens nous began to show and they replied in the best possible way with tries to Kiniviliame Radaveta and Erueli Naivukedrau, whose outstretched one-arm try just before half-time proving a crucial turning point moment.

In a topsy-turvey encounter there was some enthralling and attack filled Sevens on show at Albert Park with Drifters captain Daniele Tabuakuru’s tackling and hard running proving especially potent.

It appeared the final score would eventually be 10-7 until Inia Danasauta scooped up the ball from the back of a ruck and skipped over under the posts to put the result beyond doubt.

Radaveta converted to make the final score 17-7 and to give the Drifters the inaugural Hyperion Cup trophy and a cheque for $20,000.

But the Drifters were lucky to make it to the final, after they came from behind in extra time to beat the hugely talented Queensland Barbarians in a heart-stopping semi-final.

The Barbarians led until the final seconds when the Drifters scored after the bell and then scored again early in the first half of golden point, to win 19-14.

The Uprising team were too classy for the Aussie Spirit team that will represent Australia in the IRB World Series in Dubai, in the other semi-final, running out winners 26-19. Spirit winger Clinton Sills proved the standout performer over the weekend, finishing top of the try-scoring log.

The women's final saw the talented Eastsyde Women's outfit run out four tries to one winners over the star-studded Sydney team, 26-7, with Shannon Parry scoring twice for Eastsyde and England Sevens star Amy Turner also impressing.

Moana Virtue and Catherine Tipene also crossed for Eastsyde and Kristy Giteau putting on a spectacular runaway try for Sydney.

Tournament director Luca Liussi said he was delighted with the success of the two-day event, which attracted some of the best Rugby 7's players from Australia and the South Pacific.

"Rugby 7's has arrived on the Gold Coast in a big way and to have so many great players and great teams support the event augurs well for a very bright future," said Liussi.

In the other finals Griffith defeated arch rivals Bond University 12-10 to win the Dr Tom Nutley University Challenge, whilst the Gold Coast Eagles 20 defeated Island Breeze 7 to win the Shield final. Brisbane Nadi 40 were far too strong for Country King Browns 7 in the Bowl final, while; The Aussie Legends 22 hung on to beat Sunnybank 19 in the Plate final.

RESULTS 2009 Hyperion Gold Coast International Rugby 7s

Day 2:

Men:

Cup:
Quarter Finals: South Sea Drifters 38 d Samoa Virgin Blue Islanders 12 QLD Barbarians 52 d Sunnybank 12 Aussie Spirit 50 d Aussie Legends 0 Uprising Beach Resort 36 d MRDC Menjals (PNG) 5

Semi Finals: South Sea Drifters 19 d QLD Barbarians 14 Uprising Beach 26 d Aussie Spirit 19

Final: South Sea Drifters 17 (K Radaveta, I Danasauta, E Naivukedrau tires; K Radeveta con) d Uprising Beach Resort 7 (W Vuidravuwalu try, R Filipe Turagayawa con)

Plate:
Semi Finals: Sunnybank 14 d Samoan Virgin Blue Islanders 12 Aussie Legends 26 d MRDC Menjals 19
Final: Aussie Legends 22 (E Power, P Fou, P Donnelly, J Samoa tries; J Samoa con) d Sunnybank 19 (C Matehaere, D Routledge, S Seuili tries; C Matehaere, D Routledge con)

Bowl:
Quarter Finals: Brisbane Nadi 33 d Norths 19 Warblers 21 d Island Breeze 19 Country King Browns 21 d Eagles 7 Gold Coast Breakers 31 d Souths 10

Semi Final: Brisbane Nadi 29 d Warblers 0 Country King Browns 21 d Gold Coast Breakers 19

Final: Brisbane Nadi 40 (K Robertson 2, A Tuqiri, T Kuridrani, T,Savou A Rokocoko tries; A Tuqiri 3, Rasolea 2 con) d Country King Browns 7 (L Samoa try; A Walker con)

Shield:
Semi Final: Island Breeze 29 d Norths 15 Shield Eagles 12 d Souths 10
Final: Eagles 20 (A Rankin 2, J Brown, A Rankin tries) d Island Breeze 7 (A Kalioni try, Serevi W con)

Women:

Semi Finals: Eastsyde Brisbane 43 d Drake Insurance GC 0; Sydney Women 34 d Outkast 0
3rd place play off: Outkast 17 (T Tupuhi 2, Sa'u tries; Briggshaw con) d Drake Insurance GC 5 (Spili D try)

Final: Eastsyde Brisbane 26 (Parry S 2, Tipene C, Virtue M tries; Campbell C 3 con) d Sydney Women 7 (Giteau K, Morgan C con)

University Cup Challenge: Griffith University 12 (L Swift, A Ashton tries; L Swift con) d Bond University 10 (E Berstein, L Minaar tries)