Three African teams chase a place in next season’s World Rugby Sevens top tier competition when the newly introduced three-leg championship kicks off on April 17, 2026 in Hong Kong.

South Africa men’s team, the Blitzboks, winners of the regular league and the women’s team who completed a rebuilding phase by progressing from the Tier Three division as well as Kenya’s Shujaa carry Africa’s hopes. Shujaa finished second to the USA in the three tournaments of Tier Two while South Africa women’s teams were third.

Shujaa has been drawn in a tough Pool C that has New Zealand, Australia and the USA. Blitzboks, the top seeds are in Pool A where they face Argentina, Spain and Uruguay. The women’s team has a tricky path in Pool B against Australia, Canada, and Great Britain. 

Discipline and Dedication

Cecil Africa, who coaches South Africa women’s team said in an interview with www.thesportsnewsarena.com in Sao Paulo said it took a lot of discipline and dedication for the ladies to reach the championship. “We understood the assignment and had an understanding of working towards reaching the championship,” he stated.

While looking forward to a tough challenge, Africa admitted that the qualification process has been tough and had a toll on the players. “You are likely to lose a couple of players but it is also a chance to include new ones to gain experience and finally make a regular start,” Afrika added. 

Shown Character

In Hong Kong, the coach would like to see the squad step up and play for one another to maintain the momentum. “They have shown character and I am super proud of them,” Afrika acknowledged. He will miss key players including the regular captain Nadine Roos, Liske Lategan and Simamkele Namba who were key to their qualification to the championship.

Ayanda Malinga has taken the captain’s band and is aware of what they face in Hong Kong. She will rely on the senior players to step up and face Australia and Canada whom they have never beaten and Great Britain.  

Afrika has an additional resource in the form of Renfred Dazel, his former boss before being appointed as an assistant to Philip Snyman in the men’s team.

Key to Success

Snyman, the Blitzboks coach said in an interview with SA Rugby website that the key to success in the championship was to reset after winning the league because what worked for the league may not be applicable in the next phase of the competition.  

Shujaa are also hoping for a return to the top tier in a format which most rugby fans are still trying to understand. In this format, there are three tiers. The top tier has been reduced to eight teams. They play in a league that has six tournaments.

Additional Teams

At the end of this league, they compete in a championship which is played over three legs. The championship leg has four additional teams that finished top of a three-tournament Tier 2 competition. 

At the end of the three championship tournaments, the top eight teams qualify for next season’s top tier. World Rugby explained that teams must graduate from a third tier competition made up of winners of different regions. 

Hong Kong Sevens, Pools, Fixtures and Order of play.

Women

Pool A: New Zealand, Fiji, Japan, Brazil; Pool B: Australia, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa; Pool C: USA, France, Argentina, Spain.

France v Argentina, USA v Spain, Canada v Great Britain, Australia v South Africa, France v Spain, USA v Argentina, Canada v South Africa, Australia v Great Britain, Fiji v Japan, New Zealand v Brazil, Fiji v Brazil, New Zealand v Japan, Argentina v Spain, USA v France, Great Britain v South Africa, Australia v Canada, Japan v Brazil, New Zealand v Fiji, 

Men

Pool A: South Africa, Argentina, Spain, Uruguay; Pool B: Fiji, France, Great Britain, Germany; Pool C: Australia, New Zealand, USA, Kenya.Argentina v Spain, South Africa v Uruguay, France v Great Britain, Fiji v Germany, Argentina v Uruguay, South Africa v Spain, France v Germany, Fiji v Great Britain, New Zealand v USA, Australia v Kenya,New Zealand v Kenya, Australia v USA, Spain v Uruguay, South Africa v Argentina, Great Britain v Germany, Fiji v France, USA v Kenya, Australia v New Zealand.