Women's sevens wins fans with action-packed finale

Women's rugby sevens has a bright future at the Olympics, Australia's coach Tim Walsh said after his side won the sport's debut gold in Rio.

Australia capitalized on the sin-binning of star New Zealand winger Portia Woodman to turn the screws and notch a 24-17 victory at a raucous Deodoro Stadium on Monday.

Rugby sevens was accepted for the Rio Olympics in 2009, and Walsh said he believed the three days of entertainment from the 12 teams proved rugby was worth its place - despite a large gap between the top and bottom sides.

"We certainly upheld the values of the Olympic movement and rugby, and I believe we've created a very sustainable future for rugby sevens," said Walsh, the former captain of the Wallabies men's sevens team.

"Every time somebody watches women's sevens, they are amazed by the athletic ability, the skills and the sheer excitement of the game.

"The women's competition embodies what rugby and the Olympics are all about."

Walsh admitted more needs to be done to narrow the "disparity between the top and bottom".

"In the World Series we need some more tournaments to make sure that other teams can participate and that the current teams are getting more competition," he said.

"If you look at the top eight, it's very, very competitive."

The Rio tournament marked the first time since 1924 that rugby has been played at the Olympics and the debut for sevens. The previous four incarnations featured men's 15-aside tournaments.

The final made for a riveting spectacle showcasing high-class skills, knee-trembling defense and tremendous fitness.

The Kiwis drew first blood through Kayla McAlister before Emma Tonegato evened the score.

Woodman's yellow card saw the Australians score two more through Evania Pelite and Ellia Green to all but end the contest.

Charlotte Caslick poured salt into New Zealand's wounds before consolation tries from McAlister and Woodman made it a little more respectable for the Kiwis.

"It's incredible, we've worked so hard for this," said Australian skipper Shannon Parry. "It was a typical trans-Tasman battle.

"When I started the game, women's rugby in Australia wasn't very big, it was very much a minority sport."

New Zealand skipper Sara Goss said all 12 teams had come to the Rio Games "to grow a women's legacy".

As rugby looks to widen its reach across the globe, Canada coach John Tait, whose team beat Britain 33-10 for bronze, summed up his feelings with what will surely be music to the ears of the sport's governing body.

"This sport's come a long way in the last four years," he said. "I have three young daughters and I know they're inspired by it."

Australia's Nicole Beck celebrates winning gold in rugby sevens with her daughter, Sophie Willoughby. Phil Noble / Reuters

(China Daily 08/10/2016 page5)