RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Favourites Australia were crowned the first ever Olympic rugby sevens champions after beating New Zealand 24-17 in the final of the women's tournament in Rio on Monday.

Australia outscored the Kiwis by four tries to three, two of them crucially coming either side of half-time when star New Zealand winger Portia Woodman was in the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on.

The tournament marked the first time since 1924 that rugby has been played at the Olympics and the debut for sevens, the previous four incarnations featuring men's 15-a-side tournaments.

Canada won bronze after beating Britain 33-10.

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