Shujaa handed pool of death in opening leg of 2024 Challenger Series

The men’s national rugby 7s team, Shujaa, have been handed a tough start to their quest of gaining promotion back to the topflight HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series (now called SVNS Series) after being drawn in a tough Pool C in the opening leg of the 2024 Challenger Series set for Dubai.

The Kevin ‘Bling’ Wambua coached side will have an East African derby to contend with after being drawn against perennial rivals Uganda, Germany and Mexico in Pool C of the tournament taking place from 12-14 January.

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Kenya, Uganda and Germany will not be strangers to each other, having recently played in the same event together during the 2023 Safari 7s held in Nairobi in November.

Kenya beat Uganda 17-5 in the Pool matches on Day One before beating Germany 19-5 in the main cup semis on their way to lifting the title. Uganda on the other hand got the better of Germany 31-7 in the Bronze Medal match.

Pool A will see Uruguay facing Hong Kong China, Papua New Guinea and Georgia with Pool B featuring Japan, Tonga, Chile and Portugal.

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In the women’s category, the women’s national side, Kenya Lionesses, who are also seeking to gain promotion have been paired in Pool B alongside China, Czechia and Mexico.

Pool A has Belgium, Thailand, Papua New Guinea and Uganda while Pool C has Poland, Hong Kong China, Paraguay and Argentina.

The Dubai pool draw follows the recent announcement of the competition schedule which sees three rounds taking place over three continents between January and May.

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The Challenger competition provides a clear promotion pathway to reach the pinnacle HSBC SVNS in 2025.

The top four placed men’s and women’s teams from the 2024 Challenger, based on cumulative series points at the conclusion of the third round will secure an opportunity to compete in the new high stakes relegation play-off competition at the SVNS Grand Final in Madrid on 31 May-2 June, 2024 where they will compete against the teams ranked ninth to 12th from HSBC SVNS 2024.

Four successful nations from this Grand Final play-off will secure their place in HSBC SVNS 2025, while the other four teams will compete in their regional qualification tournaments to earn the right to compete in the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025. 

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Men’s pools

Pool A: Uruguay, Hong Kong China, Papua New Guinea, Georgia

Pool B: Japan, Tonga, Chile, Portugal

Pool C: Kenya, Germany, Uganda, Mexico

Women’s pools

Pool A: Belgium, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Uganda

Pool B: China, Czechia, Mexico, Kenya

Pool C: Poland, Hong Kong China, Paraguay, Argentina

The Challenger tournaments replicate the Olympic Games competition format, with the 12 teams drawn into three pools of four teams each.

The top two from each pool as well as the two best third-placed finishers will qualify for the knockout stages with quarter-finals and semi-finals leading to the third place and gold medal matches.

The 2024 edition of the Challenger competition kicks off with combined events at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on 12-14 January, followed by Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo, Uruguay on 8-10 March before standalone women’s and men’s events at Henryk Reyman's Municipal Stadium in Krakow, Poland and Dantestadion in Munich, Germany respectively on 18-19 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger 2024 dates

Dubai, UAE – 12-14 January (men and women)

Montevideo, Uruguay – 8-10 March (men and women)

Krakow, Poland - 18-19 May  (women)

Munich, Germany –18-19 May (men)