The World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series came to a conclusion on Saturday, April 12, 2025, with the Kenya Lionesses being crowned champions for the first time in history.
The Lionesses delivered a commanding performance across the three rounds, winning two Cup titles in South Africa and finishing third in Krakow, to top the standings with 56 points.
South Africa, who were crowned Krakow champions, settled for second place with 54 points, while Argentina and Colombia finished third and fourth respectively.
All four teams — Kenya, South Africa, Argentina, and Colombia — have qualified for the final promotion playoff tournament set to take place in Los Angeles, where they will face the bottom four teams from the Women’s SVNS Series.
Challenger Series final standings. PHOTO/World Rugby
Kenya Lionesses captain Grace Okulu, speaking after lifting the trophy, expressed pride and joy over their achievement, calling it a tough but rewarding journey.
“It’s actually been a tough couple of days in Krakow, but we bounced back and we were able to win the series. Since last year we didn’t qualify, this year we really had a lot to do,” said Okulu. She added, “It actually feels amazing. I don’t think anyone in Kenya Rugby has ever done this! But being the first women’s team to win the series, it means so much to us.”
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Okulu also thanked the Kenyan fans, saying, “It’s always nice having Kenyans around – it’s always a party! If you know where the party is, you’ll always find Kenyans! We’re so lucky to have our fans come support us all the way.”
In the men’s Challenger Series, Portugal were crowned champions and will be joined by Germany, Canada, and Samoa in the Los Angeles playoff.
The four will face Kenya, Ireland, Uruguay, and the USA — the bottom four finishers in the Men’s SVNS Series — in a high-stakes playoff that will determine who qualifies for the 2026 World Sevens Series.
Challenger Series final standings. PHOTO/World Rugby
