World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 Dates And Venues Announced

World Rugby has confirmed the full schedule of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024, outlining the locations and dates of the series which the Hong Kong, China Women & Men, China Women, Thailand Women, and Japanese men have qualified for.

Feature Photo Credit: Asia Rugby / JRFU 

The men and women will play three rounds over three continents between January and May 2024, with the first two legs seeing the women and men compete at the same venue but the third leg will be held separately but on the same weekend (no reason was given why in the press release).

Nigel Cass, World Rugby Chief Competitions and Performance Officer said: “The World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger is a vitally important tournament that provides meaningful competition and a clear promotion pathway to reach the pinnacle HSBC SVNS.

World Rugby is looking forward to working with the tournament hosts in delivering a ground-breaking Sevens Challenger in an action-packed year of rugby sevens leading into the Olympic Games Paris 2024.”

World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 Format

The World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 events will include the 12 men’s and 12 women’s nations from around the world who have qualified through regional competitions.

The pool draw for the Challenger 7s 2024 is expected to take place in Dubai during the opening round of HSBC SVNS in December 2023.

• The tournaments will replicate the Olympic Games competition format, with the 12 teams drawn into three pools of four.
• The top two from each 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 top four teams from each will head to the Grand Final in Madrid from 31 May-2 June 2024 where they will be joined by the teams ranked ninth to 12th in the SVNS Series. The top four placed teams of this play-off event in Madrid will secure their place in HSBC SVNS 2025.

Photo Credit: JRFU / Asia Rugby – Japan men in action in 2023

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger 2024 Schedule

Jonathan Castleman, HSBC Global Head of Brand and Brand Partnerships added of the 2024 Challenger Series, “For over a decade of partnership with the sport, we have been proud of our role in rugby sevens being a driving force in the global expansion of rugby, whether that be taking the game to new markets or supporting the growth of the women’s game.

2024 will truly be a landscape-altering year for rugby sevens, and we’re delighted to once again be partnering with World Rugby – on both the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger and HSBC SVNS – to leverage our own global network to help the sport flourish in more communities all over the world, creating more opportunities for players, fans and teams.”

• Dubai, UAE – 12-14 January (men and women)
• Montevideo, Uruguay – 8-10 March 2024 (men and women)
• Krakow, Poland – 18-19 May, 2024 (women)
• Munich, Germany – 18-19 May, 2024 (men)

World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 Competing Teams

Women’s Teams

1. Poland
2. Belgium
3. Czechia
4. Argentina
5. Paraguay
6. Kenya
7. Uganda
8. Mexico
9. China
10. Hong Kong China
11. Thailand
12. Papua New Guinea

Photo Credit: JRFU / Asia Rugby – HKCR Women 7s

Men’s Teams

1. Portugal
2. Georgia
3. Germany
4. Uruguay
5. Chile
6. Kenya
7. Uganda
8. Mexico
9. Japan
10. Hong Kong China
11. Papua New Guinea
12. Tonga

Photo Credit: JRFU / Asia Rugby – Max Denmark in action for the HKCR Men

World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 –  Match Officials

The match Officials have also been confirmed with 20 individuals from 14 countries selected for the HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024.

The match official team includes 11 women and 9 men, and from Asia, Morgan White will officiate the Men’s Series, and Sunny Lee will be involved in the Women’s Series. Both are from Hong Kong, China Rugby (HKCR).

Women’s Match Officials – Challenger Series 2024

• Tiana Anderson (NZR)
• Ella Goldsmith (RA)
• Melissa Leboeuf (FRR)
• Sunny Lee (HKCR)
• Nerea Livoni (UAR)
• Kristine Lovatt (RC)
• Zoe Naude (SARU)
• Precious Pazani (ZRU)
• Chloe Sampson (NZR)
• Giana Viljoen (SARU)
• Holly Wood (RFU)

Men’s Match Officials – Challenger Series 2024

• Sulkhani Chikladze (GRU)
• Griffin Colby (SARU)
• Gonzalo de Achaval (UAR)
• Robin Kaluzniak (RC)
• Peter Martin (IRFU)
• Cauã Ricardo (CBRu)
• Ian Seaton (USAR)
• Evan Urruzmendi (FFR)
• Morgan White (HKCR)

Sevens Rugby News 2023-2024

• Asian Rugby Sevens Teams Confirmed For 2024 Challenger Series – Other Key Takeaways from the ARSS 2023.
• HSBC World Sevens Series Rebranded and Launched as HSBC SVNS.
• Emirates Match Official Panels For HSBC SVNS 2023-2024 Confirmed.
• Indian Rugby Football Union Looks To Establish 7s Professional Rugby Premier League.