CAPTAIN Tom Mitchell could not hide his disappointment as England were beaten by New Zealand in the World Cup Sevens final.
They fell to a 33-12 defeat in the showpiece in San Francisco, America.
England enjoyed a fine run to the final, beating Samoa, USA and South Africa.
HIGHLIGHTS: New Zealand retain their Rugby World Cup Sevens crown after thrilling final day in San Francisco #RWC7s pic.twitter.com/GdhDRxT92P
— Rugby World Cup Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) July 23, 2018
Former Oxford University fly half Mitchell, whose superb cross-field kick led to the match-winning try in the quarter-finals, acknowledged his side had come a long way.
But the 29-year-old, who scored a try as England beat South Africa in the last four and was named in the team of the tournament, was hurting after losing to the All Blacks.
Mitchell said: “For those of us involved in the last one, already this is a vastly different experience.
“I think a lot of people wrote us off heading into this, didn’t give us a shot.
Pin point accuracy from @TBobbyMitchell to get @englandrugby into the Championship semi-finals at #RWC7s pic.twitter.com/9sBBf8wTLW
— Rugby World Cup Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) July 22, 2018
“The way the boys have fought and scrapped, not just over the weekend but for the last however many months all the way through the season which has not gone our way a lot of the time, I kind of feel like we deserve that one place higher and to come away as world champions which is what we desperately wanted.
“It means it hurts now, because the boys worked so hard and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
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