The Black Ferns made light work of the inaugural women's competition pool phase in Hong Kong, even without captain Sarah Hirini, who was serving a three-match suspension.

France, USA, Canada, Great Britain, Fiji, USA and Australia also reached the last eight of the tournament.

Pool A: Black Ferns enjoy pool party in Hong Kong

Portia Woodman added tries 219 and 220 of her sevens career in the seven-try 46-0 romp in front of a party crowd in Hong Kong. The Black Ferns will face Canada for a second time in as many matches in the opening match of the knockout phase, having run-in 23 tries in three matches so far, as they chase a fifth consecutive tournament title this sevens season.

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

Pool B: Aussies rule

Beibhinn Parsons and Aimee-Lee Murphy Crowe both scored twice as Ireland comfortably beat hardworking Brazil 34-0 to record their only win of the pool phase. 

Australia followed Ireland’s lead with an organised 35-7 five-try win over fellow quarter-final qualifiers Fiji as they celebrated qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics by finishing unbeaten in their pool.

Pool C: Okemba stars as France go unbeaten

Japan’s Mei Ohtani had the honour of scoring the first try of day two, early in their 14-10 win over Spain. Spain’s women later scored four tries to beat Hong Kong 24-5 in the ninth-place semi-final. They will go head to head with Japan in the ninth-placed final, after they beat Brazil 19-0 in the second semi-final.

Those semifinals 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 season’s Sevens Series. She then repeated the trick a minute later, as Les Bleues’ ramped up the flair to 11 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.