The Australian Women's Sevens hopes of a World Championship have been extinguished by a swarming New Zealand effort in Los Angeles
The women's side have received a major boost with captain Bella Nasser, Demi Hayes and Heidi Dennis returning to the side, and it showed as they put wins on Fiji, France and the USA.
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Following a commanding win over Canada, the Aussies went into the match hoping to pull off a World Championship title - however a strong Kiwi defense proved too strong for the young side - finishing the 2024/2025 season as runner's up.
The men have missed out in controversial circumstances: after pulling big wins over Spain and Fiji, a thriller against New Zealand saw Henry Hutchinson held up over the line, handing the Aussies a loss - with points differential meaning the side fell two points shy of semis.
They subsequently lost the fifth-place play-off to France, finishing the LA leg in sixth.
Australia has fallen at the final hurdle in Los Angeles, going down to a strong Kiwi outfit 31-7.
Two tries in the first half from New Zealand saw the women in black ahead 0-12 at the break, before a Mackenzie Davis try got Australia back into the match early in the second half.
However from that point, it was all New Zealand - with three tries to put the match beyond doubt.
All hopes now rest on the Aussie Womens side, and they've picked up exactly where they left off - blasting away Canada 33-7 to make the final.
Ahead 14-7 at halftime, Faith Nathan scored a hattrick, with Mackenzie Davis continuing her stellar form, scoring her fifth try of the campaign, while Ruby Nicholas also chipped in.
The Aussies will now face New Zealand, who defeated the USA 34-7 in the other semi final.
Australia's Mens Sevens has finished the Los Angeles Sevens in sixth place, after going down to France in their final match.
The French were in control from the get go, scoring three tries in the first half, before sealing the match by scoring the next two of the second half to deny the Aussies any chance of a fightback.
Maurice Longbottom scored the final try of the season in extra time, ensuring the Aussies wouldn't be held scoreless.
In the final match of the day on the Australian front, the Aussie Womens have progressed through to the semi-finals of the Los Angeles Sevens after clean sweeping Pool B - however, they were on the backfoot early, conceding a try inside the first 20 seconds against France.
Two long range efforts Kahli Henwood saw the Aussies reclaim the lead - before Mackenzie Davis scored after the halftime siren for a 19-7 lead.
France scored first in the second half, but picked up a yellow card shortly afterwards - and Davis capitalised, scoring her second.
A try to Piper Simons put the match beyond doubt, booking a semi final spot for the women in gold.
So close, but so far.
The Aussies and Kiwis have gone three minutes into added time, with their final match of Pool B ending in controversial circumstances.
The Aussies fought back after the Kiwis scored two tries early in the first half, with a long range effort from Henry Paterson, seeing the score line 14-7 at halftime.
A cynical offence by New Zealand for not releasing off his feet saw Australia draw even with a penalty try, before Ben Dalton capitalised on the overlap to give the Aussies the lead for the first time, before the Kiwis regained the lead through Brady Rush.
The Aussies found themselves hounding the Kiwi line as the clock went to red, and after several penalty attempts, Henry Hutchinson barged over the line for what appeared to be the match winner - before the TMO deemed no clear grounding, and no try.
Following Fiji's 24-12 loss to Spain, Pool B finishes in a three-way tie, with Australia, New Zealand and Spain on seven points - however, points differential means Australia misses out on making the semi-finals by two points.
They will now go into the competition for the fifth-place playoff against France.
The Aussie Womens have powered ahead 33-12 over hosts USA to lead Pool B, with discipline costing the Olympic bronze medal winners early in the second half.
Teagan and Madi Levi set the tone early, both scoring tries for the Aussies set an aggressive tone early.
However, the hosts regathered with two late tries to even up the scores at halftime, 12-12.
A yellow card to the hosts saw Australia capitalise, with Madi Levi, Ruby Nicholas and Mackenzie Davis all scoring to put the match beyond doubt.
Levi's two tries also saw her become the top try-scorer of 2024/2025 season.
Australia have overcome the Flying Fijians in a thriller thanks to a double to James Turner - and now have one foot in the door of a shot at the World Championship title.
The Fijians applied heavy early pressure on, picking up a try to Terio Veilawa - however two yellow cards saw the Aussies capitalise, with Turner scoring on halftime to go in down 7-5.
Maurice Longbottom gave the Australians the lead early the second half, but Veilawa scored a second immediately upon his return from the bench to give the Fijans the lead.
A long range effort from Turner in the final minute saw the Aussies scrape over the line, and move to the top of the table.
Australia have started their hunt for the World Championship title in clinical fashion, outclassing Fiji in their opening match.
The Aussies led the entire match, however the opening half saw a even contest, with Bridget Clark's try in the opening two minutes the only score that could separate the sides, the halftime score being 7-0.
It was even more impressive with Fiji's Ilisapeci Delaiwau shown a yellow card, leaving Fiji a player down during the half.
However, the experience of the Aussies delivered in the second half, with tries to Maddison Levi, Isabella Nasser and Mackenzie Davis putting the match beyond doubt.
The Aussie Men's side have started off the weekend with a win - although they had to work hard to put down at determined Spanish side.
The Spanish got on the board first at the end of a seesawing first half - however James Turner replied immediately to give the Aussies a 7-5 lead at halftime.
Ben Dowling further extended the lead at the start of the second half, with Hayden Sargent adding a penalty in the 13th minute.
Spain would get the last laugh at fulltime with a try - however the gap the Aussies opened up put the match beyond doubt.
1. Piper Simons
3. Faith Nathan
4. Mackenzie Davis
5. Teagan Levi
10. Isabella Nasser (c)
11. Demi Hayes
12. Maddison Levi
13. Heidi Dennis
14. Bridget Clark
15. Kahli Henwood
23. Ruby Nicholas
28. Kiiahla Duff
65. Sariah Paki
1. Henry Hutchison (c)
2. Ben Dowling
6. Henry Paterson (c)
9. Matt Gonzalez
10. Ben Dalton
11. Maurice Longbottom
13. Jayden Blake
14. James Turner
23. Aden Ekanayake
25. Hayden Sargeant
29. Josh Turner
77. Wallace Charlie
87. Michael Icely
Unavailable for selection due to injury
AUSTRALIA WOMEN
- Madison Ashby (knee) – 2025/2026 World Series
- Kaitlin Shave (knee) – 2025/2026 World Series
- Sidney Taylor (knee) – 2025/2026 World Series
- Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea (knee) - 2025/2026 World Series
AUSTRALIA MEN
- Dietrich Roache (knee) – 2025/2026 World Series
