The competition to secure a place in the HSBC SVNS promotion and relegation play-off in Madrid on 31 May – 2 June will be determined in the third and final round of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024, held in Munich, Germany and Krakow, Poland on 18-19 May. This event will determine the top four placed men’s and women’s teams, with Uruguay leading the men’s standings and China leading the women’s.
The women’s team will have 12 captains competing, with the pools following the format of the Olympic Games. The competition aims to enhance the global development of rugby sevens, with representation from all six World Rugby regions.
International rugby sevens enthusiasts worldwide will have the opportunity to witness the intense action that will determine the qualifiers for the upcoming HSBC SVNS competition.
The competing team captains have expressed their high expectations and excitement for the forthcoming tournaments. The playoffs for the Madrid competition will involve the top four placed teams. The international rugby sevens action taking place on 18-19 May will see the top four placed teams securing a place in Madrid.
The 12-team competition format mirrors the Olympic Games with three pools of four teams each, representing all six World Rugby regions. Fans worldwide can view the action on rugbypass.tv.
The top four placed men’s and women’s teams will secure a place in the new HSBC SVNS promotion and relegation play-off competition in Madrid on 31 May – 2 June. Uruguay men and China women currently lead the Challenger standings after two rounds in Dubai and Montevideo as the race to secure a top four place reaches its climax this weekend.
Uruguay leads the men’s standings on 36 points following victory on home soil in Montevideo and a bronze medal at the opening round in Dubai. Kenya, winners in Dubai, are in second place also on 36 points, ahead of Chile on 32 points and Germany on 26 points, narrowly besting Hong Kong China on points difference. China has been the dominant team in the women’s competition with a perfect 40 points after securing gold in the first two rounds.
These developments are a vital preparation for the Olympics, and significant achievements are expected from each team.
The pool draw for the final round took place at Hong Kong Stadium prior to the HSBC SVNS 2024 event last month, promising exciting matches this weekend.
In the men’s division, the top two teams have the opportunity to gain promotion to HSBC SVNS 2025, increasing the stakes. The caliber of competition across the first two rounds in Dubai and Montevideo has been excellent, and more thrilling international rugby sevens and intense drama are anticipated in both Munich and Krakow this weekend.
The Sevens Challenger, initiated in February 2020, aims to boost the development of rugby sevens globally, which has seen significant growth in the past two decades since the introduction of the global sevens series and becoming an Olympic sport at the Rio 2016 Games.
Overall, the Challenger series is set to determine which teams will earn a spot in the HSBC SVNS promotion and relegation play-off competition in Madrid and eventually advance to the Olympics, supporting the global growth of rugby sevens.