Three for Murphy Crowe as Sevens off to perfect start

Ireland Women got off to the perfect start at the World Rugby Sevens Series in Toulouse as they bid for automatic qualification for the Olympic Games.

The team entered the final event in fifth place in the standings, which is enough to get them to France next year.

They made an ideal start in their opening match-up against hosts France, running in four tries in an exceptional first-half, and finished up 27-7 winners.

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (2), Lucy Mulhall and Megan Burns all crossed the whitewash to give Allan Temple Jones' charges a 22-0 lead at the break.

Railway Union flyer Murphy Crowe completed her hat-trick at the start of the second half and a late Séraphine Okemba try was only consolation for the French side.

The team's next match is this evening at 7.05pm against Australia, with their final Pool B game against Brazil tomorrow at 9.43am.

More to follow...