For the next two weekends, Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa will be a hive of activity as 24 second tier seven-a-side rugby teams battle it out in the 2025 World Rugby Challenger Series.

At stake after back to back tournaments is a top eight finish to qualify for the penultimate round in Krakow, Poland on April 11-12, 2025 where the top four teams will qualify for the World Rugby Sevens World Series play-off in Los Angeles at the beginning of May. The top four teams in the women’s and men’s categories will proceed to LA to play against the bottom four teams from the World Series.

Two teams in each category shall be promoted to the core status after the qualifier. Last season, Kenya and Uruguay were promoted in the men’s category while China and Spain earned a slot in the women’s category. 

Four African Teams

Four African countries, South Africa, Uganda, Madagascar and Kenya will have four teams in this tournament. Uganda has men’s and women’s teams. Of these teams, South Africa women’s team are gunning for a place in the qualifiers and a return as a core team. 

The men’s category has Canada, Samoa and Japan who have tasted action as core teams. Canada and Japan are fresh from competing in a three-team competition at the just concluded Vancouver Sevens.

The possible opponents of the qualifiers from the Challenger Series are almost known after the WRSWS circuit edged past the halfway stage after Vancouver Sevens. In the men’s category, Kenya, Uruguay, Ireland and the USA are unlikely to finish among the top eight teams. 

Candidates for LA Qualifiers

In the women’s category, Spain, China and Ireland are candidates for the qualifier in LA while Fiji and Brazil who performed well at Vancouver Sevens may also drop. 

Four of the teams in South Africa are from East Africa. Uganda has two teams. Three players will make their debut in the women’s team. They are Mastula Nambozo, Tina Molly Akello, and Janat Nandudu while Samia Ayikoru returns to the fray after two years out. 

Kenya Lionesses have a change in captaincy where the band has been handed to Grace Okulu who has captained the team before.

Pool winners

Only the winners of each pool proceed to the knock-out cup semi-finals bypassing the quarter finals. The second-placed teams play for the fifth to eighth positions and the third-placed teams drop to the lower tier where they contest the ninth to 12th positions. 

At the end of the first two legs, eight teams with the most cumulative points proceed to the third round to be played at the Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium in Krakow, Poland on April 11-12 where the top four teams shall progress to the playoff in LA from May 3-4. 

Selected Squads

Kenya Lionesses: Naomi Amuguni, Christabel Lindo, Sheila Chajira, Stella Wafula, Faith Livoi, Moreen Muritu, SinaidaNyachio, Freshia Oduor, Judith Akumu, Grace Okulu, Sharon Auma, Diana Ochieng.

Uganda Lady Cranes: Samia Ayikoru, Mary Gloria Ayot, Grace Auma, Lydia Namabiro, Getrude Kateesa, Mayimuna Nasozi, Janat Nandudu, Agnes Nakuya, Mastula Nambozo, Tina Molly Akello, Rachael Mufuwa, Grace Nabagala, Peace Lekuru.

Officials: Charles Onen (Coach), Kigongo Ssebalamu (Strength and Conditioning), Winnie Atyang (team manager), Nelson Mayeku (physiotherapist) Bronson Weir (consultant).

Rugby Sevens Cranes Sevens: Aaron Tukei, Alex Aturinda (captain), Allan Karuhanga, Jones Kamiza, Roy Kizito, Nobert Okeny (captain), Allan Olango, Daniel Oketa, Patrick Okello, Malcom Okello, Arnold Ocen, Karim Arinaitwe.

Reserves: Stuart Mwayi, Aina Ndahura, Julius Opio, Thomas Opio.

 Allan Otim (Strength and Conditioning), Samuel Asiimwe (physiotherapist), Tolbert Onyango (Head coach), Benson Weir (High-performance consultant), Michael Wandera (team manager).

South Africa: Leight Fortuin, Zintle Mpupha, FElicia Jacobs, Maria Tshiremba, Kayla Swarrts, Nadine Roos, Mathrin Simmers (captain), Kemisetso Baloyi, Shiniqwa Lampretch, Ayanda Malinga, Alicia Willemse, Rights Mkhari. 

Cape Town, Challenger Series 

Women’s Draw

Pool A: South Africa, Czechia, Hong Kong China

Pool B: Argentina, Thailand. Mexico

Pool C: Belgium, Uganda, Colombia

Pool D: Poland, Kenya, Samoa

Order of play: Kenya v Samoa, Uganda v Colombia, Thailand v Mexico, Czechia v Hong Kong China, Poland v Samoa, Belgium v Colombia, Argentina v Mexico, South Africa v Hong Kong China, Poland v Kenya, Belgium v Uganda, Argentina v Thailand, South Africa v Czechia.

Men

Pool A: Germany, Japan, Georgia.

Pool B: Chile, Tonga, Portugal

Pool C: Samoa, Uganda, Brazil.

Pool D: Hong Kong China, Madagascar, Canada.

Order of play

Hong Kong China v Madagascar, Uganda v Brazil, Tonga v Portugal, Japan v Georgia, Canada v Madagascar, Samoa v Brazil, Chile v Portugal, Germany v Georgia, Canada v Hong Kong China, Samoa v Uganda, Chile v Tonga, Germany v Japan.