WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) New Zealand is host and defending champion but won’t start as favorite in the Women’s Rugby World Cup, which begins Saturday with three consecutive matches at Auckland’s Eden Park stadium.
TOWNSVILLE, Australia (AP) New Zealand dominated the Australian women's side to hand the Rio Olympic gold medalists a 34-5 defeat at the Oceania Sevens rugby tournament on Saturday. The New Zealand women turned back early Australian pressure and then turned its game over to a strong offensive attack, taking an early 22-0 lead.