The World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series schedule for 2023 has been released. Two three-day tournaments, including men’s and women’s competitions, will be held at Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch on April 20–22 and 28–30.
The winner of the 12-team women’s Challenger Series will automatically advance to the Sevens World Series 2024, with the winner of the 12-team men’s Challenger Series competing in a four-team playoff at the HSBC London Sevens later in May 2023 alongside the teams that finished 12th through 14th in the ten rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. The play-off’s winner will advance to the Sevens World Series 2024.
The women’s teams scheduled to participate are:
- Springbok Women’s Sevens
- Belgium
- China
- Colombia
- Czechia
- Hong Kong
- Madagascar
- Mexico
- Papua New Guinea
- Poland
- Thailand
- The South American side is yet to be confirmed.
The winner of the men’s Series, which also has 12 teams, along with the teams that finished 12th through 14th after 10 rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, will compete in a four-team playoff at the HSBC London Sevens later in May 2023, with the winner earning a spot in the Sevens World Series in 2024. Fans interested in rugby betting can enjoy the action by obtaining the Hollywoodbets welcome bonus 2023 in time for the tournament.
The 12 men’s sides are:
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Chile
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Korea
- Papua New Guinea
- Tonga
- Uganda
- Zimbabwe
The teams were chosen based on their standings in the relevant regional events, and the pool draw will happen after the complete squad lineups are known in early 2023.
The 12 teams are divided into three pools of four, replicating the competitive system used in the Olympic Games. The top two drawn from each group and the best third-placed teams will advance to the knockout rounds, where the bronze and gold medal matches will be played after the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Jurie Roux, the SA Rugby CEO said: “We are very grateful to have the opportunity to host the two Challenger Series tournaments next year. The improvement across the board in Sevens Rugby over the last few years, and the competitiveness between all teams, make for a superb product and we can’t wait to deliver these tournaments in Stellenbosch.
“With Rugby Sevens part of the Olympic Games, it will be a big occasion for all the teams involved and we would love nothing more than to see our own Springbok Women’s Sevens team play in Paris in 2024 – this could be the first step to achieving that dream.”
The Challenger Series will be expected to expand to three rounds in 2024, with the top four teams in the Sevens World Series entering a play-off against the bottom four teams at a Grand Finale event. This means that starting in 2024, four men’s and women’s teams will have the chance to advance annually to the highest level of international rugby sevens.
Teams from all World Rugby regions have the opportunity to realize their goals and advance to the highest level of international rugby sevens via their performances in the Challenger Series, which offers a clear route to the Sevens World Series.
