Irish sevens side crush Spain after Samoan defeat

The Irish men's rugby sevens team have won one and lost one from their opening two group games as the World Rugby Sevens Series arrived in Sydney.

Ireland opened the men's competition with a 17-12 defeat to a powerful Samoan outfit, though a brace of tries from Jordan Conroy had given James Topping's side a 12-5 lead at half-time.

The men bounced back strongly in their second game with a resounding 26-0 hammering of Spain, Conroy again among the try scorers along with Andrew Smith, Jack Kelly and Harry McNulty.

They face USA in their final pool game at 4.05am.

The Irish women won their opening two games on Day 1, Beibhinn Parsons and Emily Lane scoring in either half as they ground out a 14-12 win over Spain.

They had a rather easier time of it in their second match against Brazil, Lucy Mulhall, Eve Higgins, Parsons and Natasja Behan all running in tries in a convincing 26-12 victory.

They play their third match in the early hours against hosts Australia, kick off at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney at 2.56am Irish time.