Las Vegas Weekly

February 16, 2010 · 12:54 PM

Photo Gallery: Samoa wins first USA Sevens Rugby tournament in L.V.

By Robin Leach

New Zealand's Kurt Baker attempts to get past Samoa's Afa Aiono in the final of the USA Sevens International Rugby Tournament on Feb. 14, 2010. Samoa defeated New Zealand 33-12 for the tournament championship.

Photo: Glenn Pinkerton/Las Vegas News Bureau

Sixteen rugby teams battled it out in 44 matches in the inaugural USA Sevens International Rugby Tournament in Las Vegas. For years, the global event has been drawing worldwide fans to San Diego, and our Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority finally wrested it away to our turf for the next several years.

The games between the rugged players were held at Sam Boyd Stadium, and contributing photographer Glenn Pinkerton of the Las Vegas News Bureau was in the scrum of the action for these photos from the championship match.

The U.S. island territory of Samoa overcame a last-minute assault by New Zealand to claim victory with a score of 33-12. Our Vegas DeLuxe photo archivist Hepi Mita, who hails from New Zealand, covered the USA Sevens tournament for our colleague publication the Las Vegas Sun.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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