Kenya 7s will enter into action on Friday evening for a crucial HSBC SVNS qualification event slated for Madrid, which will run concurrently with the grand final.
Four teams from this playoff will qualify for the 2025 HSBC SVNS, slated to begin later this year.
Kenya 7s HSBC SVNs promotion pool
Kenya 7s are in Pool B alongside Spain, Samoa, and Chile. Spain and Samoa, both finishing in the bottom four in the HSBC SVNS, will be making their playoff debut, while Kenya 7s and Chile qualified for this competition after securing top-four finishes in the Challenger Series.
Kenya 7s captain joins other Captains in HSBC SVNs shoot. PHOTO/World Rugby
In Pool A, former Kenya 7s coach Mike Friday, now with USA, will face off against Canada, Uruguay, and Germany.
Uruguay and Canada will be making their second consecutive appearances in the competition.
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The teams in each pool will battle against each other on a round-robin basis. The matches will determine the ranking in each pool ahead of the cross-pool matches.
During the cross-pool matches, which will be qualifiers for the 2025 HSBC SVNS, the winners will book a ticket as a core side.
In the cross-pool matches, qualifier one will see the top-ranked team in Pool A facing the fourth-ranked team in Pool B after the group stage.
In the second qualifier match, the third-ranked team in Pool A will take on the second-ranked team in Pool B.
The second-ranked team in Pool A will then take on the third-ranked team in Pool B in the third qualifier.
The fourth qualifier will pit the fourth-ranked team in Pool A against the top-ranked team in Pool B.
Possible Scenario
A possible scenario means a team can lose all their group stage matches, finish bottom in their group but win their qualifier and qualify for the series.
There is also a possibility of a team winning all the games in the group stage, losing the qualifier match, and missing out on the series.
Kenya 7s player Brian Tanga tries to hit gap. PHOTO/Mike Lee for World Rugby
There is also a possibility where the four teams that featured in the 2024 HSBC SVNS could be relegated, with those from the Challenger Series qualifying.
Additionally, all four teams from the HSBC SVNS could retain their core status.
HSBC SVNs playoffs pools
Pool A: USA, Canada, Uruguay, Germany
Pool B: Spain, Samoa, Kenya, Chile
Kenya 7s Playing Times:
Friday, May 31, 2024
Kenya vs. Samoa at 6:25 p.m.
Kenya vs. Spain at 10:18 p.m.
Saturday, June 1, 2024
Kenya vs. Chile at 8:18 p.m.
Sunday, June 2, 2024
Qualifiers Pairings:
Qualifier 1: Top team in Pool A vs. Fourth-ranked team in Pool B
Qualifier 2: Third-ranked team in Pool A vs. Second-ranked team in Pool B
Qualifier 3: Second-ranked team in Pool A vs. Third-ranked team in Pool B
Qualifier 4: Fourth-ranked team in Pool A vs. Top-ranked team in Pool B
