Following the opening round of the Challenger Series in Dubai, Kenya 7s have claimed the top position in the standings.
Their impressive performance saw them secure victory in five out of six matches, ultimately winning the Challenger Series opener by defeating Chile 12-5 in the final at the Sevens Stadium. Patrick Odongo’s crucial two tries played a significant role in Kenya 7s’ success as he ended up with 11 tries.
Challenger Series log
With this triumph, Kenya 7s have accumulated 20 points, placing them at the forefront of the standings. They hold a two-point lead over Chile, who secured the runner-up spot with 18 points.
Uruguay, despite being eliminated by Kenya 7s, secured third place for 16 points, two ahead of Germany, who calculated 14 points from the competition.
Kenya 7s captain Vincent Onyala races on for a try. PHOTO/Mike Lee for World Rugby.
Japan and Tonga follow with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Hong Kong hold the seventh position with eight points, while Georgia have six points. Former African Champions Uganda secured four points, finishing in ninth place.
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The Challenger Series, introduced in February 2020, aims to foster the global development of rugby sevens and establish a clear promotion pathway to the top tier of global rugby sevens. The series unfolds in three rounds across three continents from January to May, serving as a pathway to the pinnacle of HSBC SVNS in 2025.
In the grand scheme, the top four men’s and women’s teams in the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024, based on cumulative series points after the third round, will earn the opportunity to participate in a high-stakes promotion and relegation play-off competition at the SVNS Grand Final in Madrid from May 31 to June 2, 2024. This competition will feature teams ranked ninth to 12th from HSBC SVNS 2024.
Challenger Series log
World Challenger Series Standings. PHOTO/World Rugby
