The 2004/05 IRB Sevens World Series kicked off in Dubai in December with everyone wondering whether the title of Series Champions could finally be prised away from New Zealand and their ageless coach Gordon Tietjens. At the end of seven action-packed events the answer turned out to be, no.

England responded to the ex-pat fervour in Dubai to beat Fiji in the first final of the series, Ugo Monye touching down five times, captain Simon Amor four en route to a title defence. But New Zealand hit straight back in George, South Africa. With the towering Roy Kinikinilau muscling his way to nine tries, Sosene Anesi adding seven to the seven he scored in Dubai and all-action forwards Josh Blackie and Liam Messam crossing ten times between them, Tietjens' men asserted themselves to condemn Fiji to another runners-up medal.

That win in balmy South Africa was also to prove a catalyst for the season. The kiwis were simply irresistible on home soil in Wellington in February, the impish Orene Ai'i scoring four and Kinikinilau 10 tries en route to Cup success before Ai'i again proved the difference in Los Angeles to inspire the team to a third consecutive title.

The Los Angeles event was also a memorable one for England's Ben Gollings, who passed Waisale Serevi as the leading point-scorer in the history of the IRB Sevens World Series.

New Zealand were well clear in the race but the Series took a back seat in Hong Kong to the Rugby World Cup Sevens and Fijian ace Waisale Serevi was given carte blanche to assemble an all-star cast for the marquee event. The likes of Serevi, Vunibaka, Satala, Satala plus new talent in Daunivucu and the heir apparent Ryder proved an awesome blend and Fiji won back the Melrose Cup that they had last won in 1997.

Singapore was the next series appointment and, with Fiji's 'harlem globe-trotters' back with clubs or in armed forces day jobs, New Zealand again seized the initiative and won to all but seal the series defence, Joe Rokocoko starring with nine tries.

The final two events of the series brought two new teams to the podium. First South Africa won at Twickenham, Danwell Demas, Eddie Fredericks and Schalk van der Merwe all among the tries. Then France pulled a hat out of the bag on home soil. Never before had Thierry Janeczek's side beaten Fiji. Never had they won a series Cup title, yet at the Stade Jean Bouin, home of Stade Francais, they did both to end the series on a high.

Samoa's David Lemi finished as the season's top try-scorer with 46, New Zealand - and Fiji - it was though, who took the major spoils from 2004/05.