England moved to within a game of qualifying for next year’s inaugural Women’s Rugby World Cup 7s in Dubai by romping into the quarter-finals of the European 7s in Limoges today.

England won their pool without conceding a point in their three games and they will now play host nation France tomorrow. The winners will automatically qualify for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 7s and the losers will go into a play-off with the losers of the other quarter-finals to decide the other two places for Dubai.

England beat Germany 31-0 in their opening pool match, scored ten tries in a 56-0 demolition of minnows Andorra and completed a successful day by beating Sweden 40-0.

“The team has progressed significantly from where we were two months ago,” said Nicky Ponsford, the RFUW’s head of performance.

“All the hard work the players and coaches have put in has started to show in terms of the shape and structure on the pitch.

“That was reflected in our defensive organisation today when we were delighted to complete our pool matches without conceding a single try.”

Saracens fly-half Rachael Burford had a particularly productive game as she ran in four tries - two each against Andorra and Sweden - and also landed eight conversions in a personal haul of 36 points.

Captain Sue Day (Wasps) scored two tries against Germany with Heather Fisher (Wasps), Kat Merchant (Worcester) and Charlotte Barras (Saracens) scoring the other tries in the opener. Burford kicked three conversions.

It was mostly one-way traffic against Andorra as Burford and Merchant scored two tries each and Fisher, Vicky Massarella (Saracens), Emma Layland (Richmond), Barras, Day and Michaela Staniford (Wasps) also crossed. Burford kicked two conversions and Amy Turner (Richmond) one.

Burford added her second brace against Sweden and was followed to the line by Barras, Staniford, Merchant and Fisher. Burford rounded off a busy day with three conversions.