Australia rocked by 'horrible' news at Olympics as men's rugby sevens side make history

Veteran Opals basketball star Rebecca Allen has seen her Olympic dream crushed after suffering a hamstring injury that's ruled her out of the Paris Games. The crushing news came on a mixed day for Australia after the men's rugby sevens side created history by beating the USA to reach the semi-finals of the competition.

Allen's hopes of claiming an Olympic Games medal with the Aussie women's basketball team are over though after the 31-year-old aggravated a hamstring injury during the team's final practice match against Canada on Tuesday. The veteran shooting guard, who plays for Phoenix in the WNBA, underwent scans after suffering the injury, with the Opals revealing on Thursday that she has been ruled out of their Olympics campaign with a high-grade hamstring complaint.

The loss is a huge blow the Opals hopes of emulating or even bettering their run to the bronze medal at the 2022 World Cup. Allen unknowingly played through that World Cup campaign with a partially-collapsed lung and two broken ribs. And Allen admits she's been left shattered by the latest injury setback that's ruled her out of the Paris Games.

"I have been looking forward to these Games for a long time and am absolutely devastated but I will now focus my energies on recovery and supporting my Opals sisters," she said. Travelling reserve Amy Atwell has been called in as Allen's replacement.

"Bec is such a big part of our team and has been for a long time, we are all devastated for her," Opals coach Sandy Brondello said. "This injury has come at a really unfortunate time and the call had to be made upon medical advice. Unfortunately she was not going to recover in time to play in these Games.

"Amy Atwell has been part of this Olympic squad all year and with us in Spain for our practice matches. This group has a really strong bond and connection and we will lock in, stay focused and continue our preparation for game one against Nigeria (on Monday AEST)."

Aussie men's Rugby Sevens team into Olympic semi-finals

The news was much better the Australian men's rugby sevens team, who've reached the semi-finals at an Olympic Games for the first time. The Aussies thumped the USA 18-0 in a quarter-final that was played in front of 70,000 fans at the Stade de France on Friday morning (AEST).

Australia will now face defending Olympic Games champions Fiji in the semi-finals after the rugby sevens powerhouse came from behind to defeat Ireland 19-15 in their quarter-final. South Africa put on an impressive defensive display to topple New Zealand in another last-eight clash and will face France in the other semi-final after the host nation accounted for Argentina 26-14.

The Aussies jumped out to 10-0 lead at halftime after tries to James Turner and Corey Toole put them in control against the Americans. Toole thought he had a second but was denied when replays showed his foot had slid into touch. Fortunately it didn't prove crucial as Maurice Longbottom slotted a penalty goal before picking up a loose ball to score and complete the rout for Australia.

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The win saw the Aussie men finally snap their quarter-final hoodoo after being knocked out in the last-eight in the sport's previous two Games appearances. The Aussies will play Olympic rugby sevens heavyweights Fiji for a spot in the Paris gold-medal game on Saturday, with the two-time defending champion Fijians unbeaten in their last 16 matches at the Olympics.

with AAP