WORLD SEVENS SERIES

Challenger Series semi-final line-up confirmed

By Amanga collins

Posted on August 14, 2022

Kenya Lionesses Christabel Lindo in action against South Africa. Photo Courtesy/KRU.

The Challenger Series will enter the semi-final stage on Sunday with four sides in both the men’s and Women’s categories still in contention for the Cup title.

Kenya Lionesses currently enjoying a four-match winning run in the competition have a tough test against Japan in the second semi-final scheduled for 17:58 East African Time.

Minutes away

A win against Japan will mean the Lionesses will be just 14 minutes away from promotion. Christabel Lindo scored two of the Lionesses’ four tries to help Kenya past Argentina in the quarter-finals, while Japan impressed as they crossed the whitewash five times during their 31-0 win against Belgium.

In the second semi-final, China will have a date against Poland. The match will kick off at 17:33 East African Time.

China maintained that form in their quarter-final against Kazakhstan, tries from Chen Keyi, Xu Xiaoyan and Wang Xiao securing a 21-7 win and their place in the last four.

They will play Poland for a place in the final after the European side emerged comfortable winners, 36-0, against Colombia in the final women’s quarter-final. Anna Klichowska and Katarzyna Paszczyk each scored two of their side’s six tries.

The winners of those two semi-finals will go on to contest the women’s final, which will kick-off at 18:47 local time on Sunday. Whoever triumphs in that tie will become a core Series team.

Challenger Series semi-final pairings . Photo Courtesy/ World Rugby

In the Men’s category, Hosts Chile have been paired against Chile while Germany will face off with Uruguay in the second semi-final.

The men’s quarter-finals did not disappoint as Georgia edged into the last four with a 19-14 win against Hong Kong, which was secured via Teimuraz Kokhodze’s second try of the match early in the second half.

Georgia will play Chile for a place in the final after Los Condores wowed the home crowd with a 24-0 win against Zimbabwe in the quarter-finals. The impressive Julio Blanc, Joaquin Huici, Cristobal Game and Clemente Armstrong scored the hosts’ tries.

For the second time in the men’s tournament in Santiago Germany edged Uganda 17-14, to book their place in the last four. Uganda had built a 14-0 lead at half-time but their European opponents stormed back in the second half and secured a slender win with tries from Lichtenberg, Niklas Koch and Carlos Soteras Merz.

Germany will now play Uruguay in the semi-finals on Sunday, the match scheduled to kick-off at 12:48 local time (GMT -4). Uruguay beat Tonga in dramatic fashion in the quarter-finals, Marcos Pastore’s last-minute try securing a 17-12 victory.

The winners of the two men’s semi-finals will meet in the final at 19:20 local time. Whoever comes out on top in the showpiece match will earn core status for the 2023 Series.

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About Challenger Series

Launched in February 2020 to boost the development of rugby sevens across the globe, the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series acts as a promotion pathway for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

Challenger Series semi-final. Photo Courtesy/World Rugby

This year’s Challenger Series is being held as a one-off combined event that will feature 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams representing each of the six World Rugby regions. Those teams qualified for August’s tournament via regional competitions.

The tournament replicates the Olympic Games competition format, with the 12 teams drawn into three pools. The top two from each as well as the two best third-placed finishers will qualify for the knockout stages.

The winners of the women’s and men’s 2022 Challenger Series will take their place among the core teams in the 2023 Series.