Toulouse 7s: GB eliminated from Cup in both men’s and women’s

Great Britain endured a disappointing day two as they were knocked out in the quarter-finals of both the men’s and women’s Toulouse World Series Cup by hosts France.

Tony Roques’ side made a solid start against France with an Api Bavadra try putting them ahead.

However, back-to-back France tries through Andy Timo and Varian Pasquet overturned the deficit.

Will Homer’s try brought the game level but Varian Pasquet’s late score sparked wild scenes at Stade Ernest-Wallon and booked them a place in the semi-final.

Great Britain women suffered the same fate following their 28-10 quarter-final defeat by France. 

GB made the ideal start with an early try through Isla Norman-Bell but endured heavy French pressure that was eventually rewarded with Joanna Grisez’s brace at the end of the first half.

Lili Dezou extended the home side’s lead before Rhona Lloyd’s score for GB was cancelled out by Lou Noel’s late try that sent the passionate locals into a frenzy. 

Canada are into the semi-finals of the men’s competition after their 12-10 triumph over Australia and will meet Argentina, who beat South Africa 21-12. 

World Series champions New Zealand comfortably beat Ireland 35-0 to book their place in the last four and will meet hosts France today.

Australia’s women booked their place in the last four beating Ireland 17-7 and will meet USA after their 22-17 victory over Fiji. 

GB men started out on Friday with a 14-0 win over Spain courtesy of converted tries by Femi Sofolarin and Kaleem Barreto.

Another 14-0 triumph, this time over Germany, followed with Barreto on the scoresheet once more and the second coming from winger Ross McCann.

Despite qualifying for the playoffs in second, GB’s pool campaign ended in dismal fashion with a 50-0 thrashing by group winners Argentina. 

GB women made an ideal start to their tournament with a 19-12 victory over Japan through tries by Rhona Lloyd, Jasmine Joyce and Grace Crompton. 

A 33-12 win over Spain followed courtesy of scores from Abbie Brown, Shona Campbell, Lloyd, Crompton and Lisa Thomson. 

GB concluded their Pool B campaign with a 19-17 defeat to Fiji but qualified for the last eight with a losing bonus point due to tries by Ellie Boatman, Crompton and Jade Shekells.

Earlier in the tournament, New Zealand were crowned women’s World Series champions for the eighth time after reaching the quarter-finals.

New Zealand proved out of reach in the standings of nearest rival Australia, the defending series champion.

The New Zealanders have taken seven of the 10 women’s series, and won the last five legs this season. The only leg they haven’t won was the first, to Australia in the Dubai final.

Written by Ben Jaycock in Toulouse

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