Rugby: Portia Woodman hits out at NZR over no Hamilton Sevens for women

Kaikohe's Portia Woodman is scoring tries on the field and making her voice heard off it. Photo / Photosport

Black Fern Portia Woodman has taken aim at New Zealand Rugby for dismissing the idea of hosting a women's tournament concurrently with the men's at the Hamilton Sevens.

Woodman discussed the topic with the Daily Mail at the Sydney Sevens, where for the first time men's and women's sevens world series tournaments were held concurrently and at the same venue.

The Black Ferns lost 31-0 in the final to hosts Australia and Woodman said there was a lot New Zealand could take from them off the field.

"Other countries can either step up and try to mingle it a bit more, and it's the standard here Sydney has set," she said.

"If we keep showing we are as good as we say we are, and we keep performing as well as we do, they can't not let us play at home."

The 2017 World Rugby player of the year criticised NZ Rugby, her employers, for finding excuses for not hosting a women's tournament when New Zealand's leg of the sevens world series takes place at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on February 3-4.

"[The NZRU] have said [it's a lack of] money at the moment, but they can seem to find money for certain things," she said.

"We'll just keep fighting and doing our thing. It's exciting that they're mixing the boys and girls together, there's no back field, we're all playing on that No 1 field. It's a step towards equality and setting girls on the same standard as the boys."

The Black Ferns claimed victory over Canada in their semi-final at the Sydney women's sevens world series tournament.
The 26-year-old scored 10 tries in New Zealand's three victories in pool play in Sydney and added two more to her tournament tally during their 36-0 quarterfinal victory against Ireland at Allianz Stadium. She scored another as the Black Ferns beat Canada .

The Black Ferns Sevens failed to fire in the final however, limply falling 31-0 to Australia.

So dominant through their pool play and in Saturday's matches against Ireland and Canada, the Kiwis collapsed at the final hurdle. They conceded five tries to none and never looked likely to respond, despite the attacking presence of Woodman and Michaela Blyde.

Giving up first-half tries to Shannon Parry and Charlotte Caslick, a yellow card to Kiwi Tyla Nathan-Wong early in the second half didn't aid their cause.

Ellia Green then sprinted clear for Australia's third try, before Evania Pelite crossed to make it 24-0 with three minutes to play.

More smothering defence set up Australia's final try with Emma Sykes crossing under the black dot to cap a brutally dominant display.

After beating their transtasman rivals to claim gold at the 2016 Olympics, Australia lost five straight games against New Zealand before yesterday's rout.

Woodman tops the try-scoring charts in the sevens world series with 22 - seven more than team-mate Michaela Blyde in second place.

It was also Australia's second consecutive World Sevens Series title win, having lifted the season-opening trophy in Dubai in December.

The Black Ferns Sevens finished fifth in that event.