The stage is set for a thrilling climax in the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series as the final women’s tournament kicks off at the Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium in Krakow, Poland, from Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 May, 2024.
This round holds particular significance for African participants Uganda and Kenya, who find themselves in a prime position to secure promotion to the elite HSBC Sevens Series.
The Challenger Series serves as a rigorous qualification process, functioning as a feeder tournament for the prestigious HSBC Sevens Series. The top four teams emerging from the Krakow tournament will be granted the opportunity to compete in a crucial play-off scheduled for the end of May. Here, they will face off against the bottom four finishers from the HSBC Sevens Series in a do-or-die battle for coveted spots in the premier competition.
China has undeniably been the dominant force in the Challenger Series thus far, securing emphatic victories in both the Dubai and Montevideo legs. The rest of the competition will be eagerly vying to dethrone the current frontrunners and challenge for the coveted top-four positions.
Uganda currently occupies a promising fourth place in the overall standings, placing them firmly in contention for promotion. Kenya, positioned slightly lower on the table, will need to deliver an exceptional performance in Krakow to solidify their chances of advancement.
While the presence of both Uganda in Pool B and Kenya in Pool C gives each African nation the opportunity to progress from the Pool stage without detriment to the other, second-ranked Argentina will be the bar in Pool B, while Kenya joins Mexico, Belgium and tournament hosts Poland in a fascinating battleground for supremacy in Pool C.
South African rugby enthusiasts will undoubtedly be following these matches with keen interest, as a potential future encounter between the Springbok Women’s Sevens team and one of these qualifiers in the upcoming play-off is a distinct possibility.
Pools for World Rugby’s HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 at Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium in Krakow, Poland, from Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 May, 2024
Pool A
China
Thailand
Hong Kong China
Czechia
Pool B
Argentina
Uganda
Paraguay
Papua New Guinea
Pool C
Belgium
Poland
Kenya
Mexico
Photo Caption: China lead the Challenger standings with a perfect 40 points after claiming gold in the first two rounds in Dubai and Montevideo, as the race to secure an all-important top four place reaches its climax this weekend in the third and final round of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 gathered in Krakow, Poland. Photo: World Rugby
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