Rugby Sevens: Aussie women’s side clinches third gold medal of series

After a “disappointing” display in their last tournament, the Aussie women have returned to the top of the Rugby Sevens tree in Seville.

The Australian women’s Rugby Sevens team continues to set the standard for its global rivals, picking up yet another gold medal in Seville, Spain, where the men’s side took out silver.

The Aussie women were left “disappointed” by their third-place finish in Malaga last week but plans to exact revenge on their international rivals went smoothly at the follow-up tournament.

Australia polished off Ireland 17-12 in the final on Monday morning (AEDT), having dropped only one game to that point.

By claiming its third gold medal from four tournaments in the 2021/22 World Rugby Sevens series, the women’s side moved a staggering 18 points clear atop the world rankings.

The Aussie women celebrated yet another series victory. Picture: Cristina Quicler / AFP

“The belief we have as a squad and a team was really what drove us to the win over Ireland,” captain Demi Hayes said.

“As a team, we were disappointed with how we went in Malaga, so Seville was a tournament we wanted to win at, and I’m proud of the team for achieving this.

“As we look to our next tournament, our key here will be to continue to build consistency as a group; once we achieve this, the wins will take care of themselves.”

Aussie Dominique Du Toit was named player of the match in the final.

Du Toit, who started on the bench, broke through the Irish defence for an individual try with only two minutes remaining to lock up the scores.

Faith Nathan crashed over for the matchwinner to deny Ireland a fairytale finish in its first Cup final.

“It was a great final. We always said Ireland were a fighting team and they certainly did fight to the end, but it was awesome to see our girls out there fighting just as hard to the end with that final try,” Du Toit said.

Dominique Du Toit was named player of the match. Picture: Cristina Quicler / AFP

Meanwhile, the Aussie men’s side went undefeated on the road to the grand final, knocking off heavyweights Argentina and the USA.

They couldn’t continue their winning ways in the decider, though, and were defeated 33-7 by the South African Blitzboks, who have now won gold at all four tournaments so far this season.

The Aussie women will hope to maintain their stronghold on the competition in late April when they travel to Langford, Canada for the next leg of the series.

The men, meanwhile, are aiming to go one better in Singapore in early April.