FINAL
Defending champions New Zealand edged out fierce rivals Australia 19-14 to be crowned Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens champions and once again reaffirm their status as the best side in the world.
An eagerly-awaited clash saw the Black Ferns Sevens secure a fourth straight title in Hong Kong and maintain their recent dominance over Australia on the 50th anniversary of the Hong Kong Sevens.
It was another close-fought affair but New Zealand were worthy victors in a game which saw the brilliant duo of Jorja Miller and Maddison Levi both get on the scoresheet again.
After their sixth title of the season, Player of the Final Risi Pouri-Lane said: “To come here and play in a final at the home of Sevens Rugby – in such an iconic stadium has been an awesome privilege.
“The girls showed grit and heart and it took a whole squad effort.”
With Valladolid the next World Championship event on May 29-31, 2025 Player of the Year Miller said: “We love these finals – they’re the moments we live for.
“We want to keep improving and stay unbeaten in Valladolid next month – and hopefully win another title at the end of it.”
The two most dominant teams with the most storied rivalry in the women’s game both came into the final on the back of five straight wins over the weekend.
Mahina Paul – on her 25th birthday – broke from deep to open the scoring before Miller claimed centre stage, a role she seems born for, with New Zealand’s second try.
She collected a fine pass from Jaymie Kolose to race under the posts for her 41st try of a remarkable season.
Australia hit back through Isabella Nasser to make it 14-7 at the break but they lost Teagan Levi to the sinbin for a high challenge on Miller and Kelsey Teneti soon grabbed New Zealand’s third try.
Maddison Levi claimed her seventh Hong Kong try – and the 261st of her career – in the last minute but Australia fell short.
THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF
France overcame adversity to deservedly secure their first podium placement in Hong Kong after downing Canada 31-7 with a superb performance.
Charity Williams continued her red-hot form by scoring a brilliant individual try after just 20 seconds, racing past a clutch of France defenders to burst clear down the left flank.
They were then dealt a major blow when Yolaine Yengo was forced off through injury during the first half.
But Anaick Konyi got their first points after breaking clear down the right flank and then Cleo Hagel went over for their second on the stroke of half-time from Kelly Arbey’s delightful offload.
Konyi added her second after the break and Anne-Cecile Ciofani and Marie-Aurelie Castel put the icing on the cake with fourth and fifth tries for jubilant France.
A delighted head coach Romain Huet said: “We’ve been building all weekend and to finish like this, in this atmosphere, is so nice.”
SEMI-FINALS
Maddison Levi scored an opportunistic try to help Australia to a 21-5 victory over France in the second semi-final.
Tia Hinds produced two smart finishes before the break and then Levi, who surpassed Portia Woodman-Wickliffe’s record try tally of 256 on Saturday, collected a loose ball to end the French resistance before Marie-Aurelie Castel’s late consolation score.
New Zealand breezed into the final after proving far too strong for Canada with a 31-12 victory as the usual suspects did the business for the Black Ferns Sevens.
Captain Risi Pouri-Lane opened the scoring with a typical opportunistic effort before Stacey Waaka’s brace made it 19-0 at the break.
Canada cruelly lost Fancy Bermudez and Caroline Crossley to first-half injuries before the prodigiously-talented Jorja Miller and Katelyn Vahaakolo added further tries for New Zealand.
Captain Olivia Apps and Eden Kilgour gave Canada, who suffered a 10th consecutive cup semi-final defeat, a semblance of respectability with second-half tries.
5th PLACE PLAY-OFF
USA’s fast start saw them beat Japan 24-19 in a close-fought 5th Place Play-Off.
Rachel Strasdas, Sammy Sullivan and Sariah Ibarra all scored inside the opening five minutes.
Tahna Wilfley later added a fourth while Hazuki Ouchida, Mei Ohtani and Honoka Tsutsumi scored for Japan, whose spirited late rally narrowly failed to harvest a try.
USA had Kaylen Thomas sinbinned late on but they held on during a dramatic finale.
7th PLACE PLAY-OFF
Reapi Ulunisau and Atelaite Ralivanawa both scored twice, and Rogosau Adimereani was also on target, as Fiji beat Spain in the 7th Place Play-Off.
It was an impressive showing from the Fijiana, while Spain opened and closed the scoring with tries from Olivia Fresneda and Carlota Caicoya.
9th PLACE PLAY-OFF
Brazil were quickest out of the blocks in their 9th Place Play-Off against Great Britain as Bianca Silva’s early double laid the platform for a 17-12 victory.
Gisele Gomes Dos Santos added a third Brazilian try before GB hit back through Georgie Lingham and Katie Shillaker.
After securing ninth place, Brazil’s Marina Fioravanti admitted her team were delighted to be back on the world stage.
She said: “We’re pretty happy to be here but we think we can still tidy up some stuff and increase our standards.
“But we have this opportunity to be better and to play here in Hong Kong is amazing.
“The stadium and crowd are awesome and as a team we are sisters.
“We can feel that on the field or when we are outside singing and dancing. It’s an incredible opportunity.”
11th PLACE PLAYOFF
Argentina beat South Africa 25-10 in the 11th Place Play-Off.
The South Americans scored tries through Marianela Escalante, Sofia Gonzalez, Maria Brigido Chamorro, Talia Rodich and Azul Medina.
Maria Tshiremba and Zintle Mpupha crossed for South Africa, who bowed out with their pride fully intact.