Portugal prepared for the climax to the IRB Sevens World Series in London and Edinburgh by winning the first of the FIRA European Sevens events in Sopot, Poland at the weekend.
The Portuguese are the reigning European champions, having won the continental final in Hanover last year against Wales, and they capped a fine performance in Poland by beating the home side 57-14 in the final to warm up in ideal fashion.
Portugal have played in four of the six IRB tournaments in the current IRB Sevens World Series and line up at both the Emirates Airline London Sevens this weekend and the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens at Murrayfield on 30-31 May.
At Twickenham they face matches on day one against Argentina, New Zealand and Canada and at Murrayfield they play their initial three matches against Fiji, Australia and Iberian neighbours Spain.
Out on their own
In Pool A in Poland Tomaz Morais' side overcame Hungary 82-0, Luxemburg 56-0, Sweden 26-5 and Latvia 52-0 to proceed unbeaten, while the hosts beat Georgia 26-24 in the match of the opening stages to top pool B.
In the Cup semi finals they also got the better of the Georgians, running out 22-7 winners, and Poland again found form to beat impressive Sweden 12-7.
Portugal ultimately proved too strong for the Polish side in the final, while Georgia recovered to beat the Swedes 19-5 and finish third overall.
FIRA European Sevens circuit
The six preliminary rounds of the FIRA European Sevens are played over five weekends in six cities throughout the continent. Countries play in at least two events and those with the most qualifying points go on to play in the final, in Hanover in mid-July.
Event 1: 16-17 May - Sopot, Poland - winners Portugal
Event 2: 23-24 May - Athens, Greece
Event 3: 20-31 May - Split, Croatia
Event 4: 6-7 June - Odessa, Ukraine
Event 5: 6-7 June - Ostrava, Czech Republic
Event 6: 20-21 June - Moscow, Russia
Final: 11-12 July - Hanover, Germany
