The South Africa women’s seven-a-side rugby team has signalled their intention to return to top flight competition after winning the newly introduced World Rugby Sevens Tier 3 competition in Dubai last weekend.

In the final against another quality side Argentina, South Africa had to rally back after an early try by Argentina. Maria Taladrid scored the opening try but Zintle Mphupa leveled before Patience Mokone crossed the line for the winner which Nadine Roos converted.

The match against Argentina was the toughest for the Africa champions and were helped by indiscipline by Jaguaretes that saw them pick up two yellow cards by Talia Rodich and Antonella Reding. This gave South Africa a numerical advantage.

On their way to the final, South Africa easily topped Pool A ahead of Thailand, Czechia and Mexico to book a date with Poland in the semi-finals. A 36-5 win over Poland landed a match up against Argentina in the final.

Three Conversions

Maria Maria Tshiremba scored two tries in the semis with Roos, Ayanda Malinga, Mokone, and Mpupha landing one try each. Roos kicked over three conversions.

At the pool stage against Thailand, Leigh Fortuin, Viance Boer, Shiniqwa Lampretch, Mphupa, and Malinga scored one try each.  Roos kicked over three conversions and  Bryhandre Dolf one.

South Africa kept a clean sheet against Mexico winning 61-0. In this match, Tshiremba scored four tries, Mokone two while Boer and Malinga added one try each. Roos slotted eight conversions.

The match against Czechia had Roos scoring two tries and kicking over two conversions. Other try scorers were Lampretch, and Tshiremba.

In the men’s category, there was heartbreak for Samoa who had a good run in the Series before being relegated to the lower ranks. There was a familiar meeting when they faced Belgium in the semi-finals in a repeat of a match in the 15’s World Cup qualification at the same venue.

Samoa Heartbreak

The qualifier saw Samoa edge out Belgium despite drawing 13-13 in the final pool match. Belgium repaid the painful loss to Samoa by winning the semi-final and qualifying for the Tier two competition that starts in Nairobi in February. Samoa finished third after beating another unlucky side Hong Kong China.

Therefore, Canada, winners of the Tier three competition and runners-up Belgium are headed to Nairobi together with South Africa and Argentina. Madagascar finished fifth.

World Rugby Tier 3 Sevens tournament, Dubai, January 17-18.

Pools and Fixtures

Women

Pool A: South Africa, Thailand, Czechia, Mexico.

Pool B: Argentina, Colombia, Poland, Samoa

Colombia 5 Poland 31, Argentina 45 Samoa 0, Thailand 5 Czechia 32, South Africa 61 Mexico 0, Colombia 21 Samoa 14, Argentina 22 Poland 5, Thailand 45 Mexico 0, South Africa 24 Czechia 5, Poland 31 Samoa 5, Argentina 14 Colombia 0, Czechia 54 Mexico 0, South Africa 33 Thailand 5. 

Men

Pool A: Colombia, Hong Kong China, Samoa, Tonga.

Pool B: Belgium, Canada, Italy, Madagascar.

Madagascar 0 Belgium 24, Canada 33 Italy 7 Tonga 14 Hong Kong China 33, Samoa 26 Colombia 7,  Madagascar 31 Italy 19, Canada 15 Belgium 19, Tonga 19 Colombia 12, Samoa 31Hong Kong China 17, Belgium 14 Italy 22, Canada 24 Madagascar 17, Hong Kong China 38 Colombia 0, Samoa 34 Tonga 12.

Sunday, January 17

Women

Cup Semi Finals: South Africa 36 Poland 5, Argentina 22 Czechia 12; Third Place Play-Off: Poland 14 Czechia 24; Final: South Africa 12 Argentina 5. 

Fifth Place Semi Final: Thailand 31 Samoa 10, Colombia 26 Mexico 10; Play Off: Thailand 0 Colombia 17. 

Seventh Place Play-Off: Samoa 29 Mexico 0. 

Men

Cup Semi Finals: Samoa 14 Belgium 26, Canada 24 Hong Kong China 19; Third Place Play-Off: Samoa 26 Hong Kong China 5; Final: Belgium 10 Canada 28. 

Fifth Place Semi Final: Tonga 26 Italy 28, Madagascar 26 Colombia 10; Play Off: Italy 22 Madagascar 31. Seventh Place Play-Off: Tonga 21 Colombia 26.