Counties Manukau are the men's national sevens champions for the first time in 21 years following their 54-14 rout of North Harbour in the final at Rotorua.
Counties Manakau co-captains, Vuga Tagickibau and Joshua Van Leishout with the trophy. January, 2016. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
With the scores locked at 14-all at half-time, Counties ran in six unanswered second-half tries to claim an emphatic victory and their first national title since 1995.
Counties player Tavite Gadeisuva scored a hat-trick of tries in the final as his team-mate Savelio Ropati bagged a brace.
On the second and final day of the tournament in Bay of Plenty, Counties thwarted Manawatu 21-12 in the quarterfinals before overcoming the hosts 31-10 in the semi-finals.
Harbour's road to the final featured a 21-12 quarter-final win over Otago and a 28-14 semi-final victory over Wellington.
Three minor trophies were also allocated on Sunday.
Whanganui claimed the Shield with a narrow 14-12 win over South Canterbury.
Northland took the Bowl by beating Hawke's Bay 17-10, and Auckland won the Plate 19-14 over Manawatu.
In the women's final, Manawatu claimed their third national title in four years with a 26-19 victory over Wellington.
Manawatu celebrate with the national sevens trophy. January, 2016. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Wellington captain Kat Whata-Simkins was named women's player of the tournament, while Counties' Augustine Pulu won the same honour from the men.
