Wild celebrations across Fiji as rugby sevens team wins gold at Rio Olympics

Incredible scenes erupted across Fiji on Friday as the country's men's rugby sevens team steamrolled their way to gold in the inaugural Olympic tournament, bringing home the island nation's first ever medal.

Shops and banks were closed and revellers took over the streets of the capital, Suva, waving flags, dancing and singing, following Fiji's 43-7 thumping of Great Britain in the final.

"Some people even stopped their vehicles on the busy streets of Suva and got out with Fiji flags to join the celebrations, not paying much heed to the slight traffic jam they caused," the Fiji Times reported on its website, noting that the celebrations were not expected to end any time soon.

At the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, staff and patients crowded around television sets and loud cheers rang out in the wards.

"Some patients used their crutches or wheelchairs to get to the television to ensure they do not miss history in the making," the Fiji Times said.

There didn't appear to be any work taking place at the Reserve Bank of Fiji, with a photo posted on social media showing scores of workers gathered outside the building and a large banner unfurled from the roof.

More than 4000 fans packed into ANZ National Stadium in Suva, which erupted into wild celebrations when the final whistle was blown, while villages and schools also stopped normal operations for the historic moment.

Phone company Digicel was offering its customers free calls until midnight to "salute the great effort of [coach] Ben Ryan and his players".

Over in Rio and Ryan, who was born in London, wasn't far wrong when he said "the entire population - towns and village - will be under siege in Fiji now".

Some fans called for Ryan and his family to be given honorary Fijian citizenship.

"I'm smiling - it probably stops me from crying," Ryan said.

"The team saved the best until last. They played some staggeringly good stuff. We wanted to showcase the way Fijian sport can be played and wanted to put smiles on everyone's face."

In a spine-tingling moment after the match, the players huddled on the field, linked arms and sang with their faces turned skywards, many with tears running down their faces.

Some described it as the most moving moment of the Games so far.

Pressure on the Pacific Island nation - which has a population of just under 900,000 - was immense in the lead-up to the Olympics.

"People expect nothing but gold," the team's captain, Osea Kolinisau, said before their Rio campaign.

"The Prime Minister told us that hopefully, we come home with gold medals in our bags. Pressure, that's pressure. Huge pressure. A lot of pressure. Especially for the first time at the Olympics."

They didn't disappoint, and dominated the final from the very outset.

Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who watched the final in Rio, released a statement saying it was a "wonderful moment in the history of our nation".

"We have won our first gold medal at a Summer Olympic Games and every Fijian is rejoicing at home and around the world." 

Google said Fiji was theNo.1 trending search in the world following the victory.