Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
New Zealand have laid down the challenge to the rest of the field after a dominant showing in Dubai that saw them march through all comers with relative ease to take the title in the first stop of the 2016-17 HSBC Women’s Sevens Series. Even Olympic champions Australia were no match for the pace and power of the New Zealanders with Portia Woodman in devastating form and newcomer Rebekah Cordero-Tufuga turning heads with two tries in the final.
Elsewhere Russia shocked the field by defeating England to win the Bronze final, while Fiji upset Canada to finish in 5th spot. The 6th place ranking would be a major disappointment to a Canadian team that took home the Bronze in Rio and emerged undefeated on Day One. They too fell to the upstart Russians in the quarter finals before just getting past South Africa in the 5th place semis.
It was a very difficult tournament for the other two Americas representatives. An inexperienced USA side were brushed aside by Ireland while Brazil fared little better against Spain. The two sides would finish in the 11th place final with the USA taking a 26-17 victory and Brazil left with no wins over two days. Both teams will have much work to do but will have plenty of time to do so as the women’s circuit now takes a long hiatus until Sydney on February 3.
DAY TWO RESULTS
CUP QUARTER FINALS
New Zealand 39 – 0 South Africa
Canada 7 – 17 Russia
Fiji 17 – 19 England
Australia 42 – 0 France
9th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Spain 22 – 7 Brazil
USA 5 – 28 Ireland
5th PLACE SEMI FINALS
South Africa 12 – 19 Canada
Fiji 31 – 12 France
CUP SEMI FINALS
New Zealand 24 – 5 Russia
England 10 – 31 Australia
11th PLACE FINAL
Brazil 17 – 26 USA
9th PLACE FINAL
Spain 12 – 14 Ireland
7th PLACE FINAL
South Africa 5 – 31 France
5th PLACE FINAL
Canada 14 – 17 Fiji
BRONZE FINAL
Russia 17 – 14 England
CUP FINAL
New Zealand 17 – 5 Australia
