South Africa, Kenya and Uganda are the top seeds for the Rugby Africa women’s seven-a-side tournament to be played at the University of Ghana rugby stadium in Accra, Ghana from November 9 to 10, 2024. 

The Kenya Lionesses team will be selected from the bulk of the players who played at the 26th Safari Sevens. Janet Okello, the long-serving Kenya Lionesses player is already back in Japan and is unavailable for selection to the sevens team.

Grace Okullu, Stella Nelima, Judy Okumu and Christabel Lindo who are in the USA with San Clemente Rhinos are eligible for selection.

In a previous interview with SNA, Dennis Mwanja, the Kenya Lionesses coach had hinted on ensuring a sustainable development program that would see a smooth transition with the inclusion of upcoming players when the veterans retire.

The bulk of the teams traveling to Ghana have one thing in common. Most of the players are also members of the 15’s team.

The tournament which is a qualifier for the World Rugby Repechage will be played under the new 12-team format with the top six teams automatically proceeding to the cup quarters. They will be joined by the next two best teams to complete the draw for the knock-out stage.

Kenya must finish top of their Pool B to avoid an earlier meeting with South Africa who were relegated as a core team of the World Rugby Sevens World Series. At least two teams from the tournament in Ghana will book a slot in the repechage competition.

The draw for the Africa Women’s Sevens tournament

Pool A: South Africa, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso

Pool B: Kenya, Madagascar, Ghana, Mauritius

Pool C: Uganda, Zambia, Senegal, Ivory Coast

Match schedule

Zambia v Senegal, Uganda v Ivory Coast, Madagascar v Ghana, Kenya v Mauritius, Tunisia v Zimbabwe, South Africa v Burkina Faso, Zambia v Ivory Coast, Uganda v Senegal, Madagascar v Mauritius, Kenya v Ghana, Tunisia v Burkina Faso, South Africa v Zimbabwe, Senegal v Ivory Coast, Uganda v Zambia, Kenya v Madagascar, Zimbabwe v Burkina Faso, South Africa v Tunisia, Ghana v Mauritius.Cup quarter finals: B1 v Best 3rd, C1 v A2, B2 v C2, A1 v 2nd best 3rd.