New Zealand and Australia lead rush for women's gold in Hong Kong

Australia beat Ireland to make it four wins from four, while Great Britain got the better of France in a close encounter of the tense kind to close the gap to Ireland in the race to Paris 2024.

Meanwhile, another Olympic hopeful, Fiji, will play New Zealand – who have only conceded 12 points this tournament – in the other semi-final at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.

Quarter-finals: Caslick at the double as Australia sweep into last four

Ireland’s impressive sevens’ knockout streak – they have won six of their last eight quarter-finals, including three of four this season – hit a green-and-gold wall in Hong Kong.

Charlotte Caslick scored twice as Australia, who have now won 25 matches in a row against Ireland, cruised into Sunday’s semi-finals with a 24-5 victory, an improvement on their win over the same team on day one. Ireland’s consolation score came after the second-half hooter had sounded.

Rhona Lloyd scored the only try of the game on the final play of a frenetic lung-buster of a quarter-final to send Great Britain into the last four, at the expense of previously unbeaten France.

Like Great Britain, Fiji also left it late to stake their claim for a semi-final berth, twice coming from behind against the USA before winning the match on the final play courtesy of a touchdown from Reapi Ulunisau to make it 19-14 at the final whistle.

After those two tight games, the Black Ferns Sevens cruised into the last four with a straightforward 45-12 win over a brave Canada – their second of the day – to round off the second day's action, and set-up a semi-final against Fiji on Sunday. Jorja Miller and Risi Pouri-Lane both scored twice as New Zealand ran in seven tries.

Pool A: Black Ferns Sevens enjoy pool party in Hong Kong

Earlier, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe had added tries 219 and 220 of her sevens career in the Black Ferns Sevens' 46-0 victory in their first match of the day against Canada. 

Invitational host side Hong Kong China made Great Britain work hard to break the deadlock in their final Pool A match – but once Emma Uren broke the deadlock late in the first half, it was one-way traffic. Jasmine Joyce ran in two second-half tries, as Great Britain made certain of their place in the final eight with a 35-0 win.

Pool B: Australia lead the way 

Beibhinn Parsons and Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe both scored twice as Ireland comfortably beat hardworking Brazil 34-0 to record their only win of the pool phase. It was enough to see them through to the last eight. 

Australia followed Ireland’s lead with an organised 35-7 five-try win over fellow knockout-phase qualifiers Fiji as they celebrated qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by finishing the pool phase unbeaten.

Pool C: France's Okemba stars, Spain finish ninth

Japan’s Mei Ohtani had the honour of scoring the first try of day two, early in their 14-10 win over Spain. The Spanish women later scored four tries to beat Hong Kong China 24-5 in the ninth-place semi-final. Then, after Japan had beaten Brazil 29-0 to secure a shot at ninth place against Spain, Brazil got the better of plucky Hong Kong China, winning 21-10 to claim 11th place.

But two tries for Japan’s Wakaba Hara – her fifth and sixth in the tournament – and another for Hana Nagata, were not enough for a ninth-placed finish as her side lost 26-17 against Spain.

Those play-off matches bookended the early action in Hong Kong. And there were plenty of fireworks in between.

France’s Seraphine Okemba turned on the afterburners to break the deadlock against USA – a side looking to medal for a sixth time in this HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. She repeated the trick a minute later, as Les Bleues’ ramped up the flair to finish top of Pool C. Ian Jason scored the decisive try as France held off a determined USA comeback to win 15-12 to qualify top of their pool.

But France’s medal hopes would end in the first match of the knockout phase against Great Britain. They will face Ireland in the fifth-place semi-final on Sunday morning.