Fans witness an action packed day two of rugby sevens. GETTY IMAGES

Defending champions New Zealand, along with top contenders Australia, France, and the US, all secured their places in the Olympic sevens quarter-finals on Sunday, marking a landmark day for women's rugby. 

The Stade de France was packed with a record-breaking crowd of 66,000, setting a new high for attendance at a women's rugby event. World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin praised the turnout, describing it as "incredible" and a "coming-of-age" moment for the sport.

New Zealand, who claimed gold at the postponed Tokyo Games in 2020, dominated their Pool A matches, with Michaela Blyde scoring four tries in a 43-5 rout of China. 

The Kiwis followed up with a 33-7 win over Canada, thanks to a brace from Jorja Miller and a notable try by Portia Woodman-Wickliffe. Canada had earlier edged out Fiji 17-14, but China rebounded with a surprising 40-12 victory over the Fijians.

Maddison Levi helped Australia to the semi-finals in the rugby sevens. GETTY IMAGES
Maddison Levi helped Australia to the semi-finals in the rugby sevens. GETTY IMAGES

Australia’s Maddison Levi had a standout performance, scoring seven tries across the day. The 2016 Olympic champions first overwhelmed South Africa 34-5, with Levi contributing four tries, and then defeated Britain 36-5, where she added three more tries. 

Levi expressed her excitement about playing in front of a packed stadium and sharing the experience with her sister Teagan, who also scored against Britain. "To be out there with my sister is super special," Levi said. "It's surreal walking out into a stadium in front of so many people."

The French women's team, aiming to replicate the success of their male counterparts who secured gold the previous day, began their campaign with a 26-0 win over Brazil in Pool C. They then thrashed Japan 49-0, with Ian Jason scoring a hat-trick, setting up a crucial match against the US. 



USA had a strong showing, overcoming Japan 36-7 despite an early lead by Sakura Mizutani, and later defeating Brazil 24-5. Social media influencer Ilona Maher, known for her advocacy on body positivity and women’s health, scored in both matches and emphasised the importance of raising the sport's profile. 

"It is really important to have a profile, and a profile for our sport," Maher said. "We are female rugby players, we're not getting million-dollar contracts, but we are keen on getting the sport out there and showing the strength of women's rugby."

USA defeated Japan 36-7 to advance in the competition. GETTY IMAGES
USA defeated Japan 36-7 to advance in the competition. GETTY IMAGES

Following the quarter-finals, the semi-finals of the women's rugby sevens tournament are scheduled for Tuesday, 30 July. The winners of these matches will advance to the final, which will be held later that day. 

The bronze medal match will also take place on Tuesday, alongside the gold medal final, offering a thrilling conclusion to the tournament. Fans can look forward to an action-packed day of rugby sevens as the top teams compete for the ultimate prize.