Defending champions Australia, who won the first-ever women’s rugby sevens gold medal at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, stormed to the top of Pool A by beating South Africa, Russia and the United States at The Sevens Stadium.

The Australian team began in ominous fashion by sweeping aside South Africa 38-5 and they then proved too strong for Russia, recording a 20-7 triumph.

They completed progression to the last eight with their 100 per cent record in tact by overcoming the US 19-10 in a hard-fought contest, which brought the day to an entertaining close.

Australia will go up against France, who squeezed through to the quarter-finals despite claiming only one win - a 24-14 victory over Ireland - in Pool C.

"They went pretty well, a tough start but got the results so look forward to tomorrow," Australia head coach Tim Walsh said.

"We love it and it’s an awesome place to come, to defend our title it would be a great start to the season and an incredible way to end the year.

"It was pretty special winning in Rio, a memory that will last, but it’s the past and we now need to look forward."

New Zealand, silver medallists in Rio, were also in good form and they opened with a 27-5 success against Ireland in Pool B.

The Black Ferns Sevens then laboured to a 19-10 win over Fiji and recovered their scoring touch in their final group clash as they thrashed France 31-0.

Their opponents in the last eight will be South Africa.

Rio 2016 bronze medallists Canada were the other team to emerge from the pool phase with three straight victories as they were on the right side of a 26-19 scoreline in their first encounter with Olympic host nation Brazil.

The Canadians made light work of Spain with a 27-7 success and ended the group stage by beating England 24-12.

Russia await for Canada in the quarter-finals, with Fiji and England also set to battle for a spot in the last four.

The opening day of the women’s Series precedes that of the men, who get their campaign underway in Dubai tomorrow.

Fiji, who clinched their nation’s first-ever Olympic medal of any colour with gold in the Brazilian city, will begin the defence of their overall title in Pool A, where they will face Argentina, Wales and Canada.

They will be without coach Ben Ryan, who announce he would step down after the country won Olympic gold.

“We had some new players at the Oceania Sevens and have two debutantes in Dubai, but there is a core from Ben's development - he used a lot of players from his time in Fiji,” Fiji captain Osea Kolinisau said.

“There is a lot to work for in the next four years and I know the new coach will have his hands full.

"But life is all about changes, and now we start with the new series and we have to readjust to the series, starting in Dubai."

Rio 2016 bronze medallists South Africa will take on the United States, Scotland and Uganda in Pool B, while Pool C is comprised of New Zealand, England, Samoa and Russia.

Australia, Kenya, France and Japan make up Pool D.