Silver for Ireland in Seville Sevens after narrow defeat to Australia

Ireland had to settle for silver as they lost out to Australia in the final of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens in Seville.

In their first ever appearance in a world series decider it looked like Ireland were on their way to victory when Béibhinn Parsons and Stacey Flood went over for tries to give them a 12-0 lead.

But the Aussies showed why they had already won two tournaments this season, hitting back before half time through Faith Nathan.

A Dominique du Toit try then had the sides level after the restart before Nathan bagged the winner after Ireland failed to control their own put-in to the scrum.

Du Toit broke through the Irish cover, and although she was stopped short of the line, Australia recycled the ball and Nathan was there to break Irish hearts.

Over the course of the three-day tournament Aiden McNulty's side managed victories over Poland, Brazil, Russia, Canada and England.

Meanwhile the men's team finished in fourth place after losing their semi-final to South Africa on a 26-0 scoreline.

They then faced Argentina, who they had already been beaten by in the pool stages yesterday, and suffered another reversal on a 19-12 margin.

Marcos Moneta scored the winning try for the South Americans, after earlier five-pointers Conor Phillips and Terry Kennedy had kept Ireland in the match.