Eight years ago, Kenya won the Singapore Sevens by beating Fiji in the final. This year, Kenya were not in Singapore after being relegated at the end of last season. But, their eyes were still glued on the results in Singapore because they are likely to play the last four teams in the Series. 

Singapore is done and dusted and the bottom four teams are USA, Spain, Samoa and Canada in the men’s category. These are the four teams to battle it in the play-off in Madrid, Spain. The top four teams in the Challenger Series shall be decided in the third tournament hosted by Germany in Munich from May 30 to June 2. 

The last day in Singapore was historic. Argentina claimed their first World Rugby Sevens World Series by beating a resurgent South Africa 14-10. Argentina becomes only the sixth country to win the title. New Zealand bagged both men’s and women’s titles. The men’s team edged out New Zealand and the women’s team beat rivals Australia in the final. 

New Zealand’s Black Ferns won the Series. Great Britain’s men’s and women’s teams also defied all odds to finish eighth to retain their core status. Japan, Brazil, South Africa and Spain also proceed to the women’s playoff in Madrid to battle it out for a core status with the top four teams in the Challenger Series after the third tournament in Poland. 

Some of the highlights in the women’s category was a double win by South Africa against the U.S. and a sterling performance by Japan who also beat the U.S and South Africa to reach the cup quarter finals. 

In the men’s competition, Fiji, coached by a former captain Osea Kolonisau lost their opening Pool C matches to USA and Great Britain before bouncing back to beat finalists Ireland. 

Argentina heads to Madrid leading the men’s log with 106 points ahead of Ireland (104), New Zealand (93)Australia (83) and Fiji (80). Black Ferns (126), Australia (124), France (104), USA (85) and Canada complete the top five teams in the women’s category.

After the Series, attention will turn to the Olympic Repechage qualifiers in Monaco from June 21 to 23, 2024. 

The draw

Men

Pool A: South Africa, Chile, Tonga, Mexico; Pool B: Great Britain, Canada, Uganda, China; Pool C: Spain, Hong Kong China, Papua New Guinea, Brazil.

Women Pool A: Argentina, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Samoa; Pool B: Hong Kong China, Paraguay, Jamaica; Pool C: China, Poland, Czechia, Mexico.