SCOTLAND have achieved their highest ever standing of seventh in the HSBC World Sevens Series.s

This ranking came at the end of nine tournaments that culminated at Twickenham yesterday. The Scots can also also reflect on reaching their sixth cup quarter final this season after an excellent first day in which they finished top of their group after defeating Brazil, Kenya and the hosts, England.

But yesterday in the second session of the London Sevens, Scotland lost out by 31-19 to the eventual beaten finalists, Australia in the quarter final.Then in the semi-final of the Plate, Scotland were beaten 31-7 by South Africa in a performance that exposed deficiencies in the Scots' defence.

Fiji, mentored by former England Sevens coach Ben Ryan, emerged as overall winners of the series, their first title in nine years. The Pacific Islanders secured the global prize after winning their quarter final. Meanwhile England, who will represent Great Britain at Rio, achieved Olympic qualification by finishing overall fourth.

Yesterday, however, it was USA who stole the show at Twickenham, as the pacy Americans winning their first ever World Series tournament with an emphatic win over Australia and with a performance that suggests they are genuine contenders to lift the first Olympic title at Rio next year.