England suffered losses to hosts South Africa and then Fiji on Day Two of the South Africa Sevens in Port Elizabeth.
After finishing second in their Pool on Day One, England came up against the hosts in the Cup quarter-final and, despite going ahead through a well-taken try from Alex Gray, succumbed to a 31-7 loss.
With Phil Burgess in the sin-bin South Africa made the extra man count and pulled ahead to lead 17-7 at the break. England failed to get on the scoreboard in the second half as South Africa secured the win and went on to win the tournament for the second year in a row and one week after winning in Dubai.
England were set to face Fiji in the Plate semi-final after the Pacific Islanders lost their own 31-19 to Australia.
Simon Amor’s side took the game to a physical Fiji side but couldn’t make their possession count and went in at the break 12-0 down.
England needed an inspired second seven minutes but failed to trouble the Fijian defence in the second period, eventually losing 31-0.
With injuries to contracted players Dan Bibby, Marcus Watson, Charlie Hayter and Callum Wilson, England will be hoping to get them fit for the next Sevens legs in New Zealand and Las Vegas next February.