


The classification for ninth-12th was completed in the morning session, with Kenya beating Ireland 22-0 for ninth place and 2016 semifinalist Japan finally getting a win to finish off a disappointing campaign at the Tokyo Games — albeit to avoid last place with a 31-19 comeback over South Korea.
Five years after finishing fourth in Rio, Japan kicked off its home Olympic tournament with a narrow loss to Fiji. Winger Lote Tuqiri said the ban on spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic and the competition draw — Day 1 games against Fiji and Britain — hurt the host team.
“Seems like we played our final in the first game,” he said.