The pools for the second round of the Challenger Series set to take place in Montevideo, Uruguay from 8-10 March 2024, have been revealed, with Kenya 7s claiming the top seed position after their victory in the opening round held in Dubai.
In Pool A, Kenya 7s will face off against Tonga, Georgia, and Portugal. Meanwhile, Pool B features finalists Chile, who will compete against Hong Kong and Mexico. The final pool, Pool C, consists of Uruguay, Germany, Uganda, and Papua Guinea.
Kenya 7s top in Challenger Series
Kenya 7s enter the event as the leader in the competition standings, following their impressive performance in Dubai where they secured victory in five out of six matches.
Kenya 7s player Patrick Odongo scores in Challenger Series. PHOTO /Mike Lee/ for World Rugby
The team clinched the Challenger Series opener by defeating Chile 12-5 in the final at the Sevens Stadium, with Patrick Odongo’s crucial two tries playing a pivotal role.
Kenya 7s currently hold 20 points, maintaining a two-point lead over Chile, who secured the runner-up spot with 18 points. Despite being eliminated by Kenya 7s, Uruguay secured third place with 16 points, while Germany calculated 14 points, securing fourth place.
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The Challenger Series, introduced in February 2020, serves to enhance the global development of rugby sevens and establish a clear promotion pathway to the top tier of global rugby sevens.
Kenya 7s John Okoth in action against Mexico in Challlenger Series. PHOTO/Mike Lee for World Rugby
The series unfolds in three rounds across three continents, with the top four men’s and women’s teams in the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 earning the opportunity to participate in a 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 pools
Pool A: Kenya 7s, Tonga, Georgia, Portugal
Pool B: Chile, Japan, Hong Kong, Mexico
Pool C: Uruguay, Germany, Uganda, Papua Guinea
