The Pearls only required the quarter-final win at the season-ending tournament in Clermont-Ferrand to ensure enough points to be declared overall champions.

That came to fruition thanks to their 35-0 thrashing of the Spaniards.

The Aussie ladies went on to beat New Zealand 14-5 in the semi-final before going down 29-19 to Canada in the final.

Australian coach Tim Walsh described his team’s efforts as ‘extraordinary’.

"To come out on top in the World Series is an extraordinary effort and we have so much to be proud of this season,” Walsh said.

“Defence wins championships and up to that last game we had been fantastic all year. 

"It's a bit bittersweet I guess as we just didn't perform in that Cup Final and Canada ran out worthy winners.

“If you don't make tackles you don't win games and it certainly wasn't our greatest defensive effort. It wasn't a case of us not being up for it - every time we pull on the jersey we are up for it - but it wasn't our game this time around.

“We'll learn from it."

Australia's runners-up placing in France sees the side elevated to the number one seeding for the Rio Olympics in August, ahead of previous incumbents New Zealand.

The 12-woman squad that will travel to Rio will be announced on Thursday July 14 in Sydney.