The focus turns to the next two tournaments of the World Rugby Sevens World Series in Hong Kong and Singapore. This is because they will determine the final rankings and the bottom four teams in each category to face the top four teams – in Madrid, Spain – in the Challenger Series that will be gunning for promotion to the top tier next season. 

While the top tier countries head to Hong Kong and Singapore before traveling to Madrid, Spain, the men’s challenger teams will be in Munich and the women in Poland.

After five stops in Dubai, Cape Town, Perth, Vancouver and Los Angeles, four women’s teams – Spain, Japan, South Africa and Brazil – are in the bottom four. In the men’s category, it is Canada, Samoa, Spain and Great Britain.

The top women’s teams in the Challenger Series after two tournaments are China, Argentina, Belgium and Uganda with Uruguay, Kenya, Chile and Germany heading the men’s category. 

Hong Kong 7s draw

The draw for Hong Kong Sevens which was released on March 8, 2024 has some interesting pairings after European teams defied all odds to reach the top four in the men’s competition. France who won their first Series title since 2005 top Pool A which has Fiji, Australia and a resurgent Canada.

Fiji have parted ways with Ben Gollings with former captain Osea Kolonisau taking over in the interim. Pool B is a tough one with Great Britain, Argentina, USA and New Zealand in the mix. This could be the toughest pool where Argentina, winners in Cape Town, Perth and Vancouver seek to rediscover their winning ways after finishing fifth in LA.

Pool C has Ireland, Spain, Samoa and South Africa who won the opening tournament in Dubai.

Emerging rivalry

The draw for the women’s category mirrors an emerging rivalry between New Zealand – winners in Vancouver and LA. They head Pool A which has France, Brazil and Great Britain.

Rivals, Australia who finished second in LA head Pool B which also has South Africa, Ireland and Fiji while Pool C will be a race between USA, Canada, Japan and Spain. It serves as a North American rivalry between the USA and Canada.  

Ranking after five tournaments

Women: Australia, New Zealand, France, USA, Canada, Ireland, Fiji, Great Britain, Brazil,  South Africa, Japan, Spain.

Men: Argentina, Ireland, Fiji, France, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, Great Britain, Spain, Samoa, Canada.

Hong Kong Sevens draw

Men

Pool A: France, Fiji, Australia, Canada.

Pool B: Great Britain, Argentina, USA, New Zealand.

Pool C: Ireland, Spain, Samoa, South Africa.

Women

Pool A: New Zealand, France, Brazil, Great Britain.

Pool B: Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Fiji.

Pool C: USA, Canada, Japan, Spain.

Challenger Series, overall ranking

Men: Uruguay 36 (109), Kenya 36 (83), Chile 32 (78), Germany 26 (106), Hong Kong China 26 (96), Tonga 18 (-13), Japan 15 (32), Uganda 14 (63), Georgia 10 (-76), Portugal 9 (-54), Papua New Guinea 9,  (-58), Mexico 9 (-366).

Ranking in Montevideo: 1. Uruguay 20 points, 2. Hong Kong China 18, 3. Kenya 16, 4. Chile 14, 5. Germany 12, 6. Uganda 10, 7. Tonga 8, 8. Portugal 6, 9. Georgia 4, 10. Japan 3, 11. Papua New Guinea 2, 12. Mexico 1.

Women: China 40 (270), Argentina 34 (147), Belgium 28 (106), Uganda 28 (-68), Kenya 24 (23), Poland 22 (103), Thailand 18 (28), Hong Kong China 11 (-48), Czechia 9 (-25), Paraguay 6 (-136), Papua New Guinea 5 (-88), Mexico 3 (-312).

Ranking in Montevideo: 1. China 20 points, 2. Argentina 18, 3. Belgium 16, 4. Uganda 14, 5. Poland 12, 6. Thailand 10, 7. Hong Kong China 8, 8. Kenya 6, 9. Paraguay 4, 10. Czechia 3, 11. Mexico 2, 12. Papua New Guinea 1