The World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 Series is in full swing, with the final round set to take place in Munich and Krakow on May 18-19. The tournament features both men’s and women’s teams, with Uruguay and China currently leading the standings after two rounds in Dubai and Montevideo.
The top four placed men’s and women’s teams will secure spots in the new promotion and relegation play-off competition at the HSBC SVNS 2024 Grand Final in Madrid. The 12-team competition formats replicate the Olympic Games, with three pools of four teams each. All six World Rugby regions are represented in the competition to boost the global development of rugby sevens.
Men’s top teams include Uruguay, Kenya, Chile, and Germany, while women’s top teams include China, Argentina, Belgium, and Uganda. The teams have been drawn into Pools A, B, and C for the final round in Munich and Krakow. Teams qualified for the Challenger 2024 through regional competitions, with Kenya, Japan, and Uruguay also showcasing their talents at the Olympic Games in Paris.
The Challenger tournaments replicate the Olympic Games competition format, with the top two teams from each pool qualifying for the knockout stages. The Challenger competition was introduced in 2020 to boost the development of rugby sevens and provide a clear pathway to the global level. The 2024 competition kicked off in Dubai, followed by Montevideo, and will conclude in Munich and Krakow in May.
World Rugby Chief Competitions and Performance Officer Nigel Cass expressed excitement for the upcoming events and the potential for teams to reach the HSBC SVNS in 2025 through the new promotion-relegation play-off event at the Grand Final in Madrid. Rugby fans can look forward to an action-packed final round in Munich and Krakow as teams battle it out for a chance to compete at the highest level in the sport.
“Zombie enthusiast. Subtly charming travel practitioner. Webaholic. Internet expert.”