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RIO DE JANEIRO -- It was fast, it was furious and the ultra-fit players were colliding at full pace. Rugby sevens certainly grabbed attention in its debut at the Olympic Games.The New England Patriots watched some of the bruising encounters involving teammate Nate Ebner, sending messages of support. It made headlines in Japan. It virtually shut down an entire Pacific nation.Unlike golf, which was returning to the Summer Games after a long absence, the best rugby sevens players in the world tackled the Olympic challenge. True to form, they won gold.The Fijian men, the long-time entertainers and back-to-back world sevens series champions, were one of the best feel-good stories of the games, bringing their tiny country its first Olympic medal and prompting a national holiday. Britain and South Africa picked up the silver and bronze , with Japan finishing a way-beyond-expectations fourth.The world series champion Australian women beat New Zealand for gold, but only after scraping to a 12-12 tie against an under-rated U.S. team which eventually finished fifth. Canada beat Britain for the bronze, and the Brazil womens team -- assembled to represent the host nation -- did well enough to qualify for the world series.World Rugby said the reception had been outstanding in non-traditional rugby markets such as the United States, where USA Rugby had more than 10 million unique visits to their website during the tournament.Its been awesome. I wouldnt have done anything differently, said Ebner, who received special permission to play at the Olympics during the NFL offseason. No regrets, at all.Ebner scored a last-minute try against Fiji in the group stage that very nearly got the Americans into the playoffs, but for a missed conversion in a 24-19 loss.It has been exciting to play. I can only imagine people who havent seen it -- Its got to be exciting to watch, he said. The Pats were watching, he said, and were saying theyre proud. Theyre with us all the way.Ebner said the Olympic sevens tournaments had potentially brought the game to a vast new audience in places like America.With professional sports, the way they are in the United States, I would never put a ceiling on potential growth, he said. I hope people open their eyes and minds to something theyve never done before, whether they grew up playing it like I did, or its something they want to take a stab at later in their life.Hopefully everyone embraces it and takes a closer look at it. Thats really all I can ask.The secret to sevens success is in the timing, Fiji coach Ben Ryan said. The game is all over in about a quarter of an hour, leaving time for another 11 just like it. The ball almost never stops, and the action moves quickly across and up-and-down the field.The crowd for the tournament opening game was only about 1,000, but it grew with multiple matches across the day. Having six games in each three-hour session helps generate a festival atmosphere, and the players often mix with fans during their breaks.Ryan describes sevens as being like the snack variety of traditional 15-a-side rugby -- which was last played at the Olympics in 1924 -- making it perfect for a TV audience.His team attracted attention off the field, too, with other Olympians.When the boys come in together ... heads turn, he said. Its a different look in the village. Theres not many islanders in there, but (other athletes) have heard about the Fiji rugby sevens team.The whole hope is that rugby adds to the Olympic games, were not just an also-ran. I think its having an impact.The U.S. women produced two big performances, leading Australia 12-5 with a minute to play before the Aussies rallied, and taking New Zealand all the way in a 5-0 quarterfinal loss.U.S. captain Kelly Griffin said the Olympics highlighted how the game is growing. Players in the womens squads came from other sports including basketball, field hockey and track-and-field.I definitely think it adds something about girls and boys both have really powerful bodies and we can go out and be physical and use our bodies for sport, she said.World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said Japans upset win over powerhouse New Zealand on the opening day of the mens tournament was amazing, and noted the performances of the Brazilian teams.Anybodys that been here in a market that is not a traditional (rugby) market and look how the Brazil womens team qualified for the World Series and then you see the Brazilian men living on first and last tries when they played Fiji, he said. Weve had the opportunity and we thank the IOC for that.Hopefully weve showcased our sport on the world stage, and hopefully weve earned the right to be a permanent sport.Buck Martinez Blue Jays Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Jason Adam Jersey . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/1996h-mike-matheny-jersey-blue-jays.html .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. Rickey Henderson Blue Jays Jersey . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. Mike Timlin Blue Jays Jersey . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St.Nico Rosberg is refusing to take his lead from Fridays second practice session for granted, saying Mercedes will has work to do to claim pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix.Rosberg topped the evening session under the lights in Singapore, which was the session which gave the first hint of trouble for Mercedes ahead of its bizarre loss of performance at Yas Marina last year. Though he was 0.3s quicker than Kimi Raikkonen this time around, Rosberg thinks it would be wrong to assume Mercedes has solved all its problems just because of one good practice session.Its been okay, he said. We know that this is the best track for Red Bull and Ferrari so we have to be careful and do the best we can. We shouldnt get ahead of ourselves because last year on Friday we looked OK and on Saturday we were nowhere. Lets wait and see.When he was asked if there is any way of understanding how quick Ferrari or Red Bull will be on Saturday, Rosberg stressed the importance of Mercedes focusing on its own pace first of all.Very difficult. Of course we think more orr less we understand the situation, but we thought that as well last year and in the end we have to concentrate on ourselves and maximise what weve got.ddddddddddddRosbergs day was not without drama, as the German went straight on and into the wall at the tight and narrow Turn 18 late in the opening session, losing his front wing in the process. He said it was just a simple error rather than a brake-by-wire issue with his Mercedes.Just braked too deep and locked up and thats it. In general the day has been OK, its been a decent start to the weekend. Maybe weve learnt a few lessons from last year but early days. Even last year on Friday we were looking OK and then come Saturday we were nowhere so lets wait and see.We definitely need to keep on working and getting the most out of it for tomorrow and hope thats going to be enough to give Red Bull and Ferrari a run for their money because here for sure is their best track. ' ' '