GRR: USA Women 7s
That team photo behind the “qualified” banner will have to wait, as the USA lost 15-14 to England in the third-place match at the Amsterdam 7s.
The Amsterdam 7s will end in thrilling fashion, but it won’t be the final to which everyone turns. Australia and Canada, having won their respective Cup semifinals against England and the USA, will compete for the trophy, but both teams have already secured their berths to the Olympics.
The USA Women controlled its Amsterdam 7s Cup quarterfinal, defeating Spain 38-5 for a semis berth against Canada, which defeated France 33-0 in its knockout this morning.
The pools and schedule have been released for the London 7s (Friday-Saturday, May 15-16), the fifth stop on the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series. The USA enter the competition tied for 5th in the standings, but only 12 points separate #2 Canada and #7 Russia, and there are two more tournaments to play.
The USA’s first win against Canada (in the '14-'15 series) couldn’t have come at a worse time for the tournament host. After falling four points shy in the teams’ pool play match, the Eagles dug deep for a 19-12 victory over Canada in the Plate final. It was an exhausting, emotional triumph over a familiar opponent, and the Eagles earned it.