Aussies upset but reach LA Sevens quarters

Reigning World Rugby Sevens Series champions Australia suffered an upset defeat to Kenya before squeezing into the quarterfinals of the weather-disrupted Los Angeles Sevens on Saturday.

Australia slumped to a 12-7 opening loss against the Kenyans before recovering to book their place in the last eight with a victory over Japan (24-10) and a narrow 15-12 loss to Fiji in their final Pool C game

That was enough to see the Australians edge past Kenya on points difference.

Australia will play Ireland in the quarterfinals on Sunday at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.

The Irish progressed to the last eight after topping their pool with three wins out of three, including a 14-5 win over South Africa.

Saturday's action in Los Angeles was repeatedly disrupted by the severe weather system which has battered Southern California in recent days.

Play was interrupted twice as heavy rain, hail and lightning lashed the stadium.

Sunday's other quarterfinals will see Great Britain take on New Zealand while mighty Fiji will face South Africa.

Samoa will play Argentina in the other quarterfinal.

Samoa topped Pool A with maximum points after a hard-fought 14-7 win over New Zealand in their group decider.

The Los Angeles Sevens is the sixth event in the 11-tournament World Rugby Sevens Series circuit.

This year's series is doubling as an Olympic qualifier, with the top four teams in the final overall standings qualifying automatically for the 2024 Paris Olympics.