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Police Suva have booked their spot in the International Sevens section of Suva Rugby Festival thanks to an important win at the Labasa Sevens.

An enthralling day’s rugby in the northern Fiji town was capped when Police Suva defeated the Veiyasana Barbarians 24-19 in a stunning finale to the third round of Suva 7s Series in front of a 5,000-strong Subrail Park crowd.

Veiyasana also qualifies for Suva with the top two from Labasa guaranteed qualification for the showpiece section of the Suva event. Isoa Tuinakoro was the star for the runners-up and walked away with the player of the tournament trophy.

Police’s victory puts them in Pool B of the International 7s section at the Digicel Suva Rugby Festival later this month where they join USA, Western Force and Sukuna Bowl opponents Army.

Veiyasana Barbars, featuring many Red Rock players that used to ply their trade in Malaysia, enter Pool D with the Samoan Barbarians, Canadian Maple Leafs and Ratu Felise from the Coral Coast.

Waisale Beci and Josevata Bole were key players for Police and under the captaincy of former Digicel Fiji 7s skipper Etonia Naba, were deserved winners. They were superb in dispatching PWD Bure and Labasa Army in the earlier rounds and edged Police Labasa in the semi-finals.

To reach the semi-finals, Police Labasa had delighted the home crowd with a last-gasp 15-12 win over favourites Wardens, who had national reps Jerry Burotu, Pio Tuwai and Setefano Cakau in their ranks.

Veiyasana, meanwhile, saw off stiff challenges from Mala Young Boys and Labasa Army II before downing top seeds Suva 19-0 in the semis.

“We’re so glad we decided to bring this tournament to Labasa,” said Suva Rugby chairman Vilikesa Rauca.

“The support from the fans here and teams right across Vanua Levu has been just outstanding. This was probably the most competitive of the three domestic tournaments we’ve had, with 12 top teams travelling by boat from Viti Levu to face the best 20 sides from the North.”

The Digicel Suva Rugby Festival begins 15 January at Albert Park, with the international 7s taking place 21-23 January at the National Stadium.

Suva 7s Series (Labasa):

9 Jan 2010, Subrail Park, Labasa

Pool A

Suva 7 Nasinu 7
Service Lions Savusavu 5 Cakaudrova Hardware Naidi 0
Nasinu 12 Naidi 14
Suva 29 Service Lions Savusavu 7
Suva 22 Naidi 0
Nasinu 30 Service Lions Savusavu 0

Pool B

Nasolo Young Boys 0 Navy 32
Uluibau 0 Redbull Laucala 5
Navy 19 Rdbull Laucala 0
Nasolo Young Boys 19 Uluibau 0
Nasolo Young Boys 28 Redbull Laucala 0
Navy 29 Uluibau 7

Pool C

Army Veivanua 14 Service Labasa 14
Police Labasa 7 Somosomo Sharks 7
Army Veivanua 7 Police Labasa 26
Service Labasa 12 Somosomo Sharks 5
Army Veivanua 21 Somosomo Sharks 7
Service Labasa 0 Police Labasa 26

Pool D

Wardens 24 St Patrick 0
Jazreel Taveuni Lions 10 Vonoyauyau Savusavu 7
St Patrick 5 Vonoyauyau Savusavu 19
Wardens 15 Jazreel Taveuni Lions 7
Wardens 24 Vonoyauyau Savusavu 0
St Patrick 0 Jazreel Taveuni Lions 17

Pool E

Veiyasana Barbars 12 Sanibua 0
Navave 5 Jazreel Taveuni Blue 5
Senibua 12 Jazreel Taveuni Blue 5
Veiyasana 33 Navave 7
Veiyasana 41 Jazreel Taveuni Blue 0
Senibua 10 Navave 5

Pool F

PWD Bure 17 Nacula Young Boys 0
Bainivualiku II 10 St Michael Naweni 7
Nacula Young Boys 7 St Michael Laweni 19
PWD Bure 5 Bainivualiku II 12
PWD Bure 17 St Michael Laweni 0
Nacula Young Boys 7 Bainivualiku II 17

Pool G

Bainivualiku 15 Mala Young Boys 7
Northern Stallions 0 Police Labasa II 21
Bainivualiku 21 Northern Stallions 0
Mala Young Boys 29 Police Labasa II 19
Mala Young Boys 19 Northern Stallions 0
Bainivualiku 19 Police Labasa II 5

Pool H

Police Suva 14 Uprising FTG 12
Manulevu WBD Northern Territory LBD
FTG WBD Northern Territory LBD
Police Suva 33 Manulevu 0
Police Suva WBD Northern Territory LBD
FTG 19 Manulevu 5

Second Round

Suva 19 Army Veivanua 12
Navy 12 Jazreel Taveuni Lions 0
Veiyasana Barbars 10 Mala Young Boys 5
Bainivualiku II 17 Uprising FTG 15
Police Labasa 24 Nasinu 12
Wardens 15 Nasolo Young Boys 7
Bainivualiku 26 Senibua 5
Police Suva 5 PWD Bure 0

Quarter-finals

Suva 14 Navy 5
Veiyasana 29 Bainivualiku II 5
Police Labasa 15 Wardens 12
Bainivualiku 14 Police Suva 26

Semi-finals

Suva 0 Veiyasana 19
Police Labasa 19 Police Suva 28.

Final

Veiyasana 19 Police Suva 24

Digicel Player of the Tournament: Isoa Tuinakoro (Veiyasana)