Third Leg Of HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger 2025 – Krakow

We now know the 8 Women’s and 8 Men’s Sevens Rugby teams who qualified to compete in the third leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger 2025 in Krakow, Poland from 11-12 April based on results from the two legs in Cape Town. The pools were confirmed but since then, there has been a shock withdrawal of the Uganda Women, so who has replaced them?

Updated April 10 2025

The captains of the 8 women’s and 8 men’s teams gathered near Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium, on Thursday against the backdrop of one of Krakow’s iconic trams.

With one job done for the qualified teams, now only the top four men’s and women’s teams with the most cumulative points gained across the three Challenger rounds will qualify for the HSBC SVNS Play Off in Los Angeles from 3-4 May 2025.

The teams will then need to face the bottom four ranked teams from HSBC SVNS 2025 in a promotion and relegation tournament with four places up for grabs for the next SVNS season. Those teams are; Brazil, China, Ireland and Spain.

With Uganda women being withdrawn by their union citing financial issues and the time to process the visas, a World Rugby spokesperson told Rugby Asia 247, “World rugby has regrettably received the withdrawal of the Uganda women’s sevens team from the third round of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger in Krakow, Poland on 11-12 April. In accordance with the Terms of Participation the next highest ranked team, Belgium, will now participate in the event.”

Jaroslaw Parasal President of Polish Rugby Union also added: “The fact that this is the only World Rugby Sevens tournament in Europe this year means a lot for us. We do our best to make another step forward this year, grow the sport in the region and ensure the teams have a great time. This event is really special for Polish rugby and there are fans coming from all around the country to be with us this weekend so we hope for a fantastic spectacle!”

Krakow, Poland – Third Leg Of HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger 2025 Pools

Women’s Teams and Pools

The top eight women’s teams, Kenya, South Africa, Argentina, Colombia, Thailand, Czechia, Poland and Uganda, qualified for Krakow and were drawn into pools of 4 teams for the final leg.

Kenya (40 points), South Africa (34), Argentina (30) and Colombia (30) are the front runners after the two tournaments hosted in South Africa.

However, the Uganda Rugby Union announced on 17th March that due to alleged funding issues and the time needed to secure the necessary visas for their Women’s team – they confirmed they had withdrawn and World Rugby followed the regulations to offer the spot to Belgium who had finished 9th in Cape Town and also makes the narrow losses and circumstances for the HKCR Women that more painful.

This is a better alternative solution to the alternative which could have byes to be given to the teams in Uganda’s pool (which includes Thailand, Kenya,  and Colombia. But points differential could also have a big outcome to determine the top 4 sides at the end of the tournament in Krakow.

Thailand is currently in 5th with 22 points and is in Pool A grouped with the winner of both opening rounds, Kenya, the Colombians who beat them in a controversial match for the red cards, and Uganda which Thailand beat in both legs in Cape Town.

The full schedule and results can be seen here.

Pool A

• Kenya
• Colombia
• Thailand
• Uganda – Withdrawn – Belgium offered the spot

Pool B

• South Africa
• Argentina
• Czechia
• Poland

Natalia Pamieta Poland Women’s Captain said: “It is always very special to play in front of the home crowd. There will be our families and friends at the stadium and it always gives as extra motivation and some kind of superpower.

We want to play our strengths and show the best rugby we can play. We want to do it for our fans, friends, families but also for ourselves.”

The Springbok Women’s Sevens team member Zintle Mpupha said “We want the fire in the belly, but with a cool head. We locked in some key details in those final days of camp in Stellenbosch The training went well and we boarded the plane knowing that we are well prepared for this. There was good energy for the trip and although it was a long one, as we travelled via Amsterdam, we are happy to be here and get going.

“We have a physical pool for sure, so we will have to front up, but also focus on our own game. Our defensive effort will be key, but that is a strong element in our game anyway. Still, we need to be dominant on the day. Playing Poland in Poland will be a challenge and Czechia is a well-organized team.”

Men’s Teams and Pools

The top eight men’s teams, Germany, Canada, Portugal, Chile, Samoa, Japan, Madagascar and Tonga progressed to the third round in Krakow and have been drawn in two pools.

For the remaining Asian side, Japan, they are in Pool B with three sides that beat them across the opening two legs in Cape Town; Canada, Portugal, and Madagascar. Japan is currently 6th with 20 points on the log.

Pool A

• Germany
• Chile
• Samoa
• Tonga

Pool B

• Canada
• Portugal
• Japan
• Madagascar

Asian Squads – 7s Challenger 2025 Leg 3

Thailand Women

Japan Men

Details of the Japan Men’s 7s squad for Krakow were released by the JRFU.

How To Watch World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 Leg 3

The HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 will be streamed via RugbyPassTV in your region if there is no local broadcaster. Fans looking to attend can buy tickets here.

Sevens Rugby News 2025

• Thailand Women and Japanese Men Qualify for Third Leg Of HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger 2025.
• Los Angeles SVNS 2025 – Pools and Format.
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• DJ Forbes – This Sport I love Is Really Special.