LIVE UPDATES: Ultimate Sevens London Finals

Rugby is back at the former home of London Irish, but it's nothing like you've ever seen before.

Ultimate Sevens action comes thick and fast, with 10 minute matches, no half-times and a new re-vamped scoring system all adding to the jeopardy of knock-out rugby.

The Ultimate Sevens players can either bag a seven-point try under the posts, or test their footballing skills from the tee. The conversions increase in points depending on how far wide the kick is taken from - one from in front of the sticks, two at a slight angle, and four points from out by the side-lines.

There have been two previous rounds of Ultimate Sevens ahead of the London Grand Finals, with the events in Cardiff and Biarritz getting the tournament off to a flying start.

In the Women's Division, Atlantic Novas took home the title from the Welsh capital, before Pacific Current triumphed in France. In the Men's Division, Clan Taran took home the title from Arms Park, before Albion Athletic won in France.

This sees the Novas and Current automatically qualify for the semi-finals in the women's division, whilst Albion and the Taranians skip round one for the men's tournament.

It was do-or-die time from the very start, with straight knock-out matches adding serious tension from the first whistle. The hosts scored within 60 seconds, as Kaitlin Shave raced home for a seven point score between the sticks for Albion.

However, Sol Feroz responded immediately, with GB Sevens Captain Emma Uren racing home for a seven point score. Sol Feroz followed this up with a try from out wide, as Ilona Zailshluik wrestled her way across the line following a looping pass. A one-point conversion followed for Latin Heat.

However, Albion battled back in the yo-yo opener, as a break from Isabella Nasser broke the line, before Carmen Izyk found space out wide and added an extra point from the tee to tie the match at 13-13 with 90 seconds left.

Albion won it at the death, as Shave grabbed her brace, as she could not be caught for an incredible end-to-end try. A stunning breakaway score by Nicole Heavirland teed up the match on a knife edge, yet a missed conversion handed the narrow win to Albion.

Albion Athletic star Katie Shillaker told RUCK reporter Harvey Allen: “I think 7s alone is [so end to end]. It can change like we said in a minute. We definitely went out and said that we're going to fight for 10 minutes. Ended up being 13, but that's sometimes the way the rugby goes. But the girls did really well and we definitely knew that Los Feroz were gonna come out firing, but we came out firing back.”

TRIES: (E. Uren 7pt, I. Zaishluik, N. Heavirland)

CONVERSIONS (POINTS) (I Zaishluik 1)

TRIES: (K. Shave 7pt, 7pt, C. Izyk)

CONVERSIONS (POINTS): (C. Izyk 1)

No time to waste, as the second match began immediately in Brentford. The history of London Irish's residency at this ground added extra importance to the Celtic side, as Clan Taran drew first blood through a Mackenzie Davies seven-pointer.

However, Foudre Bleue responded with French flair, as Maria Garcia rounded off a sublime team try for seven points of her own. After letting their lead slip, Clan Taran hit the buzzer for a time-out, for a re-group with five minutes left. With both sides enduring a brief stale mate, the French side hit the big red buzzer for their own time out, with little under four minutes left.

Les Bleue then bagged the lead, as a powerful break from Verenaisi Ditavutu saw the Fijian race in for a seven pointer. Then, Carmen Miranda Miralles followed this up for Foudre Bleue, with a neat dummy to make space for a run-in around the outside arc, before adding a one-point conversion. That marks the end of the road for Clan Taran as Foudre progress.

Mackenzie Davies of Clan Taran said; "What an opportunity it is to come together, play with girls who usually play against on the World Series, and the connections that I've made here have been amazing, and I'm so grateful that I got to be a part of it.”

“I think it's such a new experience for us all, but I really see the potential that Ultimate Sevens can get to in the future. So yeah, hopefully we come back next year.”

TRIES: (M. Davies 7pt)

CONVERSIONS (POINTS)

TRIES: (M. Garcia 7pt, V. Ditavutu 7pt, C. Miranda Miralles)

CONVERSIONS (POINTS) (C. Miranda Miralles 1)

Rugby royalty arrived to watch Albion Athletic, with a host of the World Champion Red Roses on hand to support the English side on home soil. The likes of Ellie Kildunne, Meg Jones and Helena Rowland all backed the women in white, who were first up for the semi-finals against the champions from Cardiff.

However, the inevitable would happen, as Madi Levi scored a try to hand the Current a seven-point lead. Then, the in-form Kaitlin Shave soon responded to the best in the world, with an end-to-end score of her own tying up the action to seven-a-piece in the tense semi-final.

The Ultimate winger followed up her earlier score, with Levi back on the double for the Current to re-take the advantage. A one point conversion followed for a 13-7 lead. The time-out sounded for Pacific Current, as a place in the final hung in the balance with two and a half minutes to go.

There was then a contender for try of the tournament, as the elite combination of Fijian footwork from Reapi Ulunisau and the devastating pace from Aussie flyer Madi Levi bagged a hat-trick for the winger, as the Current surged to the final.

Madi Levi said to RUCK: “I think it's pretty much at the same as we play any series, is that you want to win every game, even if it is knockout or not.

"So going in, not looking too far ahead, playing the games as they come, and I think for us, it's just learning to play how each other plays. I think we've probably got a little bit of a language barrier in amongst our teams, so to just try, know we had the work, which is to keep being able to understand with comms.”

TRIES: (M. Levi 7pt, M.Levi, M.Levi

CONVERSIONS (POINTS) (M. Levi 1, 1)

TRIES: (K. Shave 7pt,

CONVERSIONS (POINTS)

The Novas wasted to time, with a try from the opening attack from Sabrina Poulin, followed by a one point conversion for good measure.

The North American representatives backed this up with back-to-back scores, with Poulin back across the whitewash to double her personal tally, and add another one-pointer through the up-rights.

The momentum stayed with the super Novas, who had the French side pinned on the back foot for the majority of their semi-final. The champions from Cardiff had come to win a second title, and looked like a well-oiled machine under the floodlights of the G-Tech.

However, Foudre Bleue fought to the very end, as Carlota Caicoya Garcia popped up out on the right touch-line to score. Yet it would be a consolation score in truth, as Atlantic Novas rolled on the final.

TRIES: (S. Poulin, S. Poulin)

CONVERSIONS (S. Poulin 1, 1)

TRIES (C. Caicoya Garcia)

CONVERSIONS (POINTS) (C. Caicoya Garcia 1)

The unstoppable force meets the immovable objects, as the Cardiff and Biarritz champions collide in this winner-takes-all final. With the golden number 12 on her back from being last week's MVP, Levi laid in a massive shot on a Novas player to immediately force a spilled ball.

Levi thought she had scored, but Ellie Boatman got under the Australian to hold the ball up and deny the opening try. But the try-scoring machine was not denied for long, as the fleet-footed Fijian Reapi Ulunisau broke the line, before off-loading to Levi for yet another try in London.

However, the Novas would fire back, with an incredible score from Great Britain star Ellie Boatman to get her side back on level terms. The Novas thought they had a lead with four minutes left, but a TMO check ruled out a chaotic score, for a tackle off the ball.

Alev Kelter was then sent to the sin bin for the final two minutes of the match, for a tackle from an offside position. The Current took immediate advantage, as Brazilian star Gabriela Lima sent her side into the lead. The Current held on to possession, and made history as the first Ultimate Sevens women's champions!

TRIES: (M. Levi, G. Lima)

CONVERSIONS (POINTS) (M. Levi 1, G. Lima 1)

TRIES (E. Boatman

CONVERSIONS (POINTS) (E. Boatman 1,)

The men's division then got underway, as Pacific Current, led out by Australian legend Henry Hutchison took on the enigmatic Atlantic Novas. With only space for one of the sides in the semi finals, tensions were high in this must-win match.

It was Pacific who opened the scoring, as Marcus Kershaw capped off a beautiful team score out in the corner. However, a missed conversion left points on the pitch, which could prove costly. Kershaw thought he had his brace, yet a knock on denied the star his double.

With only five minutes left to keep their Ultimate Sevens hopes alive, the Novas hit the buzzer for a time-out. The pressure took it's toll on both sides with dropped balls a plenty in this match. The Novas kept a high pressure, with Current's James Turner AKA Jimmy the Jet tackled beyond his own try-line, to force a 5m scrum for the Atlantic to attack.

With just under two minutes left, the Pacific called a time out to kill the momentum from their oceanic counterparts. The scrum followed, before a quick tap from the magician Maurice Longbottom fond Lucas Lacamp out wide, who then added a one point conversion to cinch a slender advantage. The Novas held out, despite the late drama it was curtains for the Current.

Atlantic Novas player Sam Kildunne, brother of Red Roses and GB Sevens star Ellie Kildunne who was watching on, said;

“The boys played great. It was a really tight game that one, and, you know, put the best people on the pitch. I'm new, don't know much, but the lads saw it through, and we're going to the semis next.”

“It's just incredibly fast paced. There is no time for anything. The warm ups, everything's so quick, if your time out is go again, if you score, there's no rest, it's just go, go, go, go, go.”

TRIES: (M. Kershaw)

CONVERSIONS (POINTS):

TRIES: (L. Lacamp)

CONVERSIONS (POINTS): (L. Lacamp 1)

Once again, it's loser goes home and the winner heads to the semi-finals, as Foudre took on the Feroz in the last of the first round matches. Golden hour arrived above the G-Tech, yet would the orange hues above Brentford inspire El Sol to victory.

The tournament's first yellow card was brandished to Foudre's Patrick Odongo, with a penalty try awarded to Sol Feroz for a push in the back. Los Latinos took full advantage of the extra man, as Sebastiaan Jobb waltzed in out wide and nailed a neat two point conversion to boot.

With their backs against the wall, Foudre called for the time out with four and a half minutes remaining. However, Sol Feroz were too clinical, as the Belgian bullet Gaspard Lalli exploded onto a looping pass and was untouched along the right channel to score. He added a two point conversion as well. It was all Feroz, as we waved goodbye to Foudre Bleue.

TRIES: 0

CONVERSIONS (POINTS) 0

TRIES: (Penalty Try 7pts, S. Jobb, G. Lalli

CONVERSIONS (POINTS) (S. Jobb 2, G. Lalli 2

It was then time for the men's semi-finals to get underway, with the Cardiff Champions Clan Taran bringing the Celtic pride to Atlantic Novas. The Taranians were over first, as South Africa star Selvyn Davids spotted a gap around the back of a ruck and sniped in on the blind-side to score.

The dreadlocked speedster added a conversion, to hand Clan Taran a six-nil lead in the semi-final. The left hand avenue was Atlantic Novas' blind spot, as Ethan McFarland skipped home along the same touchline to double Taran's lead.

The Aussie sevens man bagged his brace shortly thereafter, with McFarland planting a strong fend on his way across to score. Another nailed conversion threw salt in the wounds, with the Novas destined for a burn out in Brentford. The Blitzbok Selvyn Davids plunged the nail in the coffin, with a stunning side-step to skip free from the Novas for a fourth Taran try.

The Novas grabbed a consolation score, with Sam Kildunne over at the very end to get points on the board. He tried his luck with a four-point conversion attempt, but it was to no avail.

Selvyn Davids told Harvey Allen: "It is different from the World Series, different rules. But I think it's amazing to come up against the world's best players in a different setup. It's amazing. I like the short turnaround. My nerves can get to me when I wait too long, so I love the short turnaround. Yeah, and it's amazing to be part of this tournament.”

“Everyone is amazing, so it's a privilege to play with any of these guys. It's amazing to play with the boys I'm playing with at the moment."

TRIES: (S. Kildunne)

CONVERSIONS (POINTS)

TRIES (S. Davids, E. McFarland, E. McFarland, S. Davids)

CONVERSIONS (POINTS) (S. Davids 1, 1, E. McFarland 1, 1)

The freshly dyed blonde locks of Tristan Leyds led out Albion Athletic, as the Biarritz champions took centre stage on home soil. However, it was Sol Feroz who struck first.

Argentina star Luciano Gonzalez started the move with a tremendous carry, before he found Australian international Nathan Lawson for the opening score of semi-final two. Lawson went for the two point conversion, yet missed the mark to keep the door open for Albion.

The Flying Frenchman Stephen Parez drew his side level, with a blistering break around the outside edge of the G-Tech. Tristan Leyds added the one-point extra, to ensure the narrow lead. The Athletic re-strengthened the lead, as Charlton Kerr left Luciano Gonzalez red in the face with a seven-pointer.

It was hail Mary time for Sol Feroz, as Gaspard Lilli sprinted the length of the pitch for a try in the final second of the match. This teed up Juan Ramos for a four-point conversion, to steal the win at the death for a place in the final. It gets no better than that for drama!

TRIES: (S. Parez, C. Kerr 7pts)

CONVERSIONS (POINTS) (T. Leyds 1)

TRIES: (N. Lawson, G. Lilli)

CONVERSIONS (POINTS) (J. Ramos 4)

The South African connection ignited the Men's Final, as Selvyn Davids broke the line, to then find Zain Davids for the run in score under the posts for seven points. The Blitzboks picked up from where they left off in Cardiff, yet Sol Feroz stayed in the fight.

Feeling the Feroz heat on their necks, Clan Taran called for the time out to halt the momentum of their opponents. However, this was short lived, as Juan Ramos crashed over for a seven point score of his own in the grand final, albeit with a heavy collision with the post protector for his efforts.

The dread-locked speedster Selvyn Davids felt that he'd dotted down a piece of individual brilliance, yet his incredible effort to finish a kick chase out wide was ruled out by the TMO.

It was a moment of madness that sent Clan Taran into the lead, as Lalli threw a wayward pass to no-one, with the loose ball landing beyond his own try-line, for the perfect gift for New Zealand star Dylan Collier to pounce upon.

But the fairy tale stayed alive for Sol Feroz, as Manu Moreno battled tooth and nail to fight for the Taran try-line with less than a minute remaining. A lengthy TMO check followed, for a dramatic finish at the G-Tech for another late steal! Ramos looked to have won it at the death once again for Sol Feroz with the two point conversion!

TRIES: (Z. Davids 7pts, D. Collier

CONVERSIONS (POINTS) (D. Collier 1,)

TRIES (J. Ramos 7pts, M. Moreno)

CONVERSIONS (POINTS) (J. Ramos 2)