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Challenger Series to decide HSBC SVNS play-off contenders
By Ian Cameron
Uruguay’s men’s team and China’s women’s team enter the final World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger Series weekend in Munich and Krakow as the leading contenders in their respective competitions.
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The Challenger Series provides a pathway to the HSBC SVNS 2025 and its final weekend will play out in Bavaria at the Dante-Stadion for the men, and at the Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium in Krakow, Poland for the women.
The top four men’s and women’s teams will qualify for the promotion and relegation play-off in Madrid, slated for 31 May to 2 June.
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Uruguay’s men lead the standings with 36 points. They secured a victory on home ground in Montevideo and a bronze medal in Dubai. Kenya – the Dubai champions – are tied with Uruguay at 36 points but hold second place. Chile follows with 32 points, while Germany sits in fourth place with 26 points, narrowly edging out Hong Kong China on points difference. The competition’s final round in Munich will be decisive for these teams.
On the women’s side China has dominated. They have amassed a perfect 40 points with gold medals in the two previous rounds. Argentina trails with 34 points, having secured silver in Montevideo and bronze in Dubai. Belgium and Uganda share third place with 28 points each.
African heavyweights Kenya have 24 points, while emerging force Poland have 22 points; meaning both are also still contention for a top-four finish.
The 12-team competition mirrors the Olympic Games format. It features three pools of four teams each and includes representatives from all six World Rugby regions.
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Argentina women’s captain Sofia Gonzalez expressed high hopes for the tournament: “The team is really looking forward to the tournament this weekend and we have high expectations. I am very excited and really looking forward to taking to the field here in Krakow, representing Argentina and obviously with our main ambition of finishing amongst the top four and qualifying for Madrid,” she said.
Poland’s captain Natalia Pamieta also shared her excitement at the launch event in Krakow: “We are very excited to play again in Krakow. In the last two years for the European Championship and European Games, we had our friends and families in the stands. With this crowd here in Krakow, we always feel like we have the 8th player in the team.
“This HSBC Challenger Series is crucial for us because we still have a chance to make our dreams come true. I really hope that for us, it is not the last tournament in the series this year and we will go to Madrid in two weeks’ time. This is also a step on the way to the Olympics and we will keep preparing to be part of Paris 2024. There is a lot at stake for us this weekend and we are really looking forward to our first game on Saturday,” Pamieta added.
Fans can catch the action on rugbypass.tv.
