Day one of women’s rugby sevens at Paris 2024 shattered attendance records and showcased the sport’s explosive growth, as 66,000 fans packed the Stade de France. This historic crowd, surpassing the previous record of 58,498 set at Twickenham in 2023, created an electric atmosphere that matched the high-octane action on the field.

Australia set the tone early, dismantling South Africa 34-5 in their opener. Maddison Levi was unstoppable, scoring four tries, while her sister Teagan and Faith Nathan also crossed the line. The Australians followed this with an equally impressive 36-5 victory over Great Britain, with Maddison Levi adding three more tries to her tally, bringing her day’s total to an astounding seven.

Defending champions New Zealand demonstrated their class with a 43-5 rout of China. Michaela Blyde equalled Maddison Levi’s four-try feat in this match. They then overcame a stiffer challenge from Canada, winning 33-7, with Jorja Miller scoring twice and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe adding her 16th Olympic try.

Host nation France thrilled the home crowd with two shutout victories. They defeated Brazil 26-0, with tries from Joanna Grisez, Chloe Pelle, Seraphine Okemba, and Ian Jason. Their second match was even more dominant, a 49-0 demolition of Japan, featuring a hat-trick from Jason and perfect kicking from Caroline Drouin.

The USA secured their quarter-final spot with wins over Japan (36-7) and Brazil (24-5). Against Japan, they bounced back from an early setback to score six unanswered tries, with Kristi Kirshe scoring twice. In their second match against Brazil, Alev Kelter, Sammy Sullivan, Ilona Maher, and Alex Sedrick all crossed the line.

The day’s biggest upset saw China, the lowest seed, stun Tokyo 2020 bronze medalists Fiji 40-12. Six different Chinese players scored tries in this historic victory. Fiji’s woes were compounded by an earlier 17-14 loss to Canada, leaving their quarter-final hopes in jeopardy.

In other notable matches, Great Britain edged Ireland 21-12 in a tense encounter, with Jasmine Joyce and Emma Uren scoring crucial second-half tries. Ireland bounced back emphatically, thrashing South Africa 38-0, with Beibhinn Parsons scoring twice.
As the day concluded, Australia, New Zealand, France, and the USA had secured quarter-final spots, setting the stage for an intense final round of pool matches and the following knockout stages.

Follow a recap of all the games:

Round 2

New Zealand 33 v Canada 7

In the final match of round 2, reigning Olympic champions New Zealand secured a convincing 33-7 victory over Canada at the Stade de France, cementing their place in the quarter-finals. Despite Canada’s early resistance, with Charity Williams equalizing at 7-7, the Black Ferns Sevens quickly took control of the game. Jorja Miller opened the scoring and later added a second try, while Risi Pouri-Lane, Jazmin Felix-Hotham, and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe also crossed the line for New Zealand. Woodman-Wickliffe’s try was her 16th in Olympic competition, further extending her record. The match showcased New Zealand’s depth and attacking prowess, with Pouri-Lane and Felix-Hotham making significant contributions. This victory, following their earlier 43-5 win over China, demonstrated New Zealand’s status as gold medal favourites and rounded off a dominant first day of competition for the defending champions.

Fiji 12 v China 40

China’s Liu Xiaoqian races away from the defense for a try on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 28 July, 2024 in Paris. Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

In a stunning upset on the opening day of the Olympic women’s rugby sevens tournament, China shocked 2021 bronze medalists Fiji with a comprehensive 40-12 victory. The match saw China bounce back from an earlier loss to dominate Fiji in all aspects of the game. Wang Wanyu opened the scoring for China within the first minute, setting the tone for a relentless performance. Despite a brief Fijian response through Alowesi Nakoci, China led 19-7 at halftime and continued their onslaught in the second period. Six different Chinese players scored tries, showcasing their depth and teamwork. This historic win, China’s largest ever against Fiji, puts them in a strong position to qualify for the quarter-finals, while Fiji, having lost both their matches on day one, now face an uphill battle to progress in the tournament.

France 49 v Japan 0

France players celebrate the win over Japan on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 28 July, 2024 in Paris. Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

France continued their impressive Olympic campaign with a dominant 49-0 victory over Japan in their second Pool C match at the Stade de France. Building on their earlier success against Brazil, Les Bleues showcased their attacking prowess and defensive solidity. Ian Jason was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick, while Caroline Drouin contributed a try and was perfect with her conversions, going 6 for 6. Anne-Cécile Ciofani and Chloé Jacquet also added tries in the second half to complete the rout. The French defence was impenetrable, maintaining their clean sheet from the earlier match against Brazil. This commanding performance played in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, secured France’s qualification for the quarter-finals with a game to spare. As they prepare for their final pool match against the United States, France’s impressive form suggests they are well-positioned to make a deep run in the tournament.

Brazil 5 v USA 24

USA’s Alex Sedrick races away from the Brazil defense for a try on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 28 July, 2024 in Paris. Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

The United States women’s rugby sevens team secured their second victory of the day and a spot in the quarter-finals with a convincing 24-5 win over Brazil at the Stade de France. Alev Kelter opened the scoring early, muscling her way over for a try in the first 45 seconds. Although Brazil briefly levelled the score at 5-5 with a try from Thalia Costa, the USA regained control when Sammy Sullivan split the Brazilian defence just before halftime to give the Americans a 12-5 lead. Ilona Maher extended the lead in the second half with a powerful solo try, showcasing her strength to break through the Brazilian defence. Utah native Alex Sedrick, coming off the bench, sealed the victory with a try in stoppage time, demonstrating the USA’s depth. This win, coupled with their earlier victory over Japan, guaranteed the USA a place in the quarter-finals with one pool match remaining against hosts France.

Australia 36 v Great Britain 5

Australia captain CharloLe Caslick and Faith Nathan during the game against Great Britain on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 28 July, 2024 in Paris. Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

Australia secured their place in the Olympic rugby sevens quarter-finals with a commanding 36-5 victory over Great Britain, their second dominant win of the day. Despite a bright start from Great Britain, with Heather Cowell scoring the opening try after Teagan Levi was yellow-carded, Australia quickly took control of the match. Maddison Levi continued her exceptional form, scoring a hat-trick to add to the four tries she scored earlier against South Africa. Bienne Terita also contributed significantly with two tries, one on either side of halftime. The Levi sisters combined effectively, with Teagan setting up Maddison for tries and scoring herself in the final moments. Following their 34-5 victory over South Africa, this comprehensive win showcased Australia’s attacking prowess and defensive solidity, firmly establishing them as gold medal contenders. The only concern for Australia was the absence of Kaitlin Shave due to a knee injury sustained in the earlier match, with Kahli Henwood making her debut as a replacement.

Ireland 38 v South Africa 0

Ireland’s Beibhinn Parsons fends off the South Africa defense on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 28 July, 2024 in Paris. Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

Ireland bounced back emphatically from their opening loss to Great Britain with a dominant 38-0 victory over South Africa in their second Pool B match at the Paris Olympics. Beibhinn Parsons opened the scoring after five minutes, breaking the deadlock in a tense first half that ended 7-0. The Irish then unleashed a second-half onslaught, scoring five unanswered tries. Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, and Vicky Elmes Kinlan all crossed the line, with Parsons completing a brace. The comprehensive win significantly boosted Ireland’s points difference, crucial for their quarter-final hopes. However, the victory was marred by an injury to captain Lucy Mulhall Rock, who left the field in tears before halftime. The result leaves Ireland level on points with Great Britain in Pool B, setting up a crucial final pool match against group leaders Australia to determine quarter-final qualification.

Round 1

New Zealand 43 v China 5

Defending Olympic champions New Zealand started their gold medal defence in dominant fashion, thrashing China 43-5 in their opening Pool A match. Michaela Blyde was the star of the show, scoring four tries in a spectacular individual performance. The Black Ferns Sevens established their dominance early, with Blyde scoring her first two tries within the opening minutes. By halftime, New Zealand had built a commanding 22-0 lead, with Blyde completing her hat-trick just before the break. She added her fourth try in the second half before China managed to get on the scoreboard. Stacey Waaka also contributed with two tries, while captain Sarah Hirini crossed the line once. This comprehensive victory sets a strong tone for New Zealand’s campaign as they look ahead to their next pool matches against Canada and Fiji

Fiji 14 v Canada 17

Canada rings the bell after rather win over Fiji on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 28 July, 2024 in Paris. Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

Canada opened their women’s rugby sevens campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a hard-fought 17-14 victory over Fiji in Pool A. The Canadians started strongly, with Florence Symonds and Charity Williams scoring tries in the first half to give them a 12-0 lead at the break. Fiji fought back in the second half, with Maria Rokotuisiga scoring early to narrow the gap. Keyara Wardley then scored what proved to be the decisive try for Canada, extending their lead to 17-7. Fiji’s Laisana Likuceva scored a late try, converted by Reapi Ulunisau, but it wasn’t enough to overturn Canada’s lead. The match was characterized by its frantic pace and series of line breaks from both teams. Chloe Daniels added one conversion for Canada. This victory gives Canada a strong start in a tough pool that also includes defending champions New Zealand and China, setting them up well for their quest to improve on their ninth-place finish from Tokyo 2020.

France 26 v Brazil 0

France’s Ian Jason dives in a try against Brazil on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 28 July, 2024 in Paris. Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

Buoyed by the euphoria of the French men’s gold medal victory the previous day, the French women’s rugby sevens team made a commanding start to their Olympic campaign, defeating Brazil 26-0 at a packed Stade de France. Joanna Grisez ignited the home crowd with an early try, followed closely by Chloé Pelle, giving France a 14-0 lead at halftime. Séraphine Okemba extended the lead in the second half, showcasing the team’s depth. Ian Jason capped off the perfect start with a lung-burning try after the final whistle. The French defence was particularly impressive, annihilating all Brazilian attacks and never conceding a point. This comprehensive victory, played in front of 69,000 spectators, sets a strong foundation for France as they aim to improve on their silver medal performance from Tokyo 2020.

USA 36 v Japan 7

USA’s Kristi Kirshe thanks the fans support on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 28 July, 2024 in Paris. Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

In a display of offensive firepower, the USA women’s rugby sevens team overpowered Japan 36-7 in their opening match at the Paris Olympics. The game began with a shock as Japan’s Hanako Utsumi scored first, putting Japan up 7-0. However, the Americans swiftly responded, with Sarah Levy equalizing before Kristi Kirshe’s double helped establish a commanding 22-7 halftime lead. The USA continued their dominance in the second half, with social media star Ilona Maher among the try scorers. Alex Sedrick and Steph Rovetti made impactful appearances off the bench, with Sedrick scoring shortly after entering the game.

Australia 34 v South Africa 5

Australia’s Maddison Levi breaks through the South Africa defense for a try on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 28 July, 2024 in Paris. Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

Australia began their women’s rugby sevens campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a dominant 34-5 victory over South Africa. Maddison Levi was the star of the show, scoring four tries in a remarkable individual performance. The Australians established their dominance early, racing to a 24-0 lead by halftime with Levi completing a first-half hat-trick. Faith Nathan and Teagan Levi also crossed the try line for Australia, while Tia Hinds added two conversions. South Africa struggled defensively in the first half, making several wrong reads and missing tackles. They improved in the second half, showing more parity at the breakdown and forcing some Australian errors. Nadine Roos scored a consolation try for South Africa, marking their first-ever try at the Olympic Games. The only concern for Australia was a potential knee injury to Kaitlin Shave, who received a yellow card late in the game. This comprehensive win sets Australia up well in Pool B as they aim to reclaim the gold medal they won in Rio 2016.

Great Britain 21 v Ireland 12

Great Britain’s Isla Norman-Bell races away from the Ireland defense for a try on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 28 July, 2024 in Paris. Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

In a thrilling opening match of the women’s rugby sevens tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Great Britain overcame Ireland 21-12 at Stade de France. Ireland, making their Olympic debut, started strongly, with Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe scoring two tries to give them a 12-7 halftime lead. Isla Norman-Bell had scored Britain’s first-half try. However, Great Britain, fourth-place finishers in the last two Olympics, mounted an impressive second-half comeback. Veteran winger Jasmine Joyce, appearing in her third Olympics, sparked the revival by beating two defenders to score. Captain Emma Uren sealed the victory with a powerful run for GB’s third try. Norman-Bell was influential throughout, contributing to the scoring and making key plays in defence and attack. The win gives Great Britain a strong start in Pool B, while Ireland will need to regroup quickly for their next match against South Africa.