At the end of a thrilling six-month season that took in eight superb global destinations, Samoa have been crowned IRB Sevens World Series champions for the first time.
Stephen Betham's men capped a best ever season with victory at the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens, having clinched the World Series with a pulsating semi final win against England.
Overall this season there have been four Cup winners on the World Series - New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji and Australia - but it was the Samoans who timed their surge for the title to perfection and held their nerve at the death in Edinburgh.
Having avoided closest challengers New Zealand in the Cup draw, the Samoans needed to win their first two knock-out games against South Africa and England to clinch the Series.
They were impressive in beating the Boks 19-0 but needed no less than 27 minutes, including 13 pulsating minutes of sudden-death golden point extra time before captain Lolo Lui calmly slotted a dropped penalty goal for a famous win.
Betham: "Couldn't get any better"
"Couldn't get any better could it, my heart almost stopped 10 times and I think I've grown another 20 grey hairs in the last 15 minutes but hey, that's Sevens rugby for you," said coach Stephen Betham.
"We were trying desperately to support one another on the break. We knew we were really tired and we knew England were out on their feet and whoever was going to take their chance was going to win the game.
"Lolo Lui has been consistently kicking goals for us all year and it's a big bonus to have someone to finish it off like that."
Video: Edinburgh Sevens Plays of Day Two
The Samoans then put to one side any physical exhaustion to win a fine final against Michael O'Connor's highly competitive Australia side to underline their champion status.
With Cup titles in Las Vegas, Adelaide, Hong Kong and Edinburgh, the Samoans boasted several of the season's outstanding and most consistent performers.
With Lolo Lui shining and leading by example they were well led on the pitch and benefited all season from the superb form of rampaging forward Alafoti Fa'osiliva and his colleagues alongside him Simaika Mikaele, Ofisa Treviranus and Afa Aiono.
In the backs, meanwhile, Lui combined brilliantly again with Uale Mai and outside there was pace to burn in the likes of Reupena Levasa and the peerless Mikaele Pesamino, who finished the season as the top try-scorer.
"I'm still pretty lost for words. I'm sure they'll be partying back home now and I think they'll party all the way until we get back home," added Betham.
2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series
| Venue | Winners |
| Dubai, UAE | New Zealand
|
| George, South Africa | New Zealand
|
| Wellington, New Zealand | Fiji |
| Las Vegas, USA | Samoa |
| Hong Kong | Samoa |
| Adelaide, Australia | Samoa |
| London, England | Australia |
| Edinburgh, Scotland | Samoa
|
On a stellar night for Samoa, Mikaele Pesamino was also named as IRB Sevens Player of the Year, in association with Emirates Airline.
Video: Mikaele Pesamino IRB Sevens Player of the Year
