World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 – Round 3 Pools & Teams

With the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 splitting into two different destinations for the third and final round, the women will play in Krakow, Poland and the men will play in Munich, Germany from 18-19 May 2024 with the pools for each having been drawn in Hong Kong.

There is everything to play for this weekend and several Asian teams are still in contention of making the vital top four spots in the Women’s and Men’s Series – The Chinese women and Uruguay men lead the Challenger standings.

Feature Photo Credit: Team captains ahead of the World Rugby HSBC Challenger Series women’s event in Krakow. Martin Seras Lima for World Rugby

Updated 17 May 2024 (see Asian announced squads below)

The series will enter its final round as it heads to the 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 2024.

China currently leads the women’s standings, and in a twist of fate, all three Asian sides were drawn into the same pool for the final leg, with China, Thailand, Hong Kong China, and Czech set to play in Pool A.

Thailand’s Rattanaporn Wittayaronnayut told Rugby Asia 247 in Hong Kong, “We have enjoyed the two Challenger tournaments so far and we hope to do our best in Poland. We are excited and it’s been an awesome experience and we will continue to try to do our best in this Series.”

Captain’s photo prior to the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger at Siegestor on 16 May, 2024 in Munich, Germany. Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

The HKCR men are in the 5th spot, following their runner-up placement in the second round in Montevideo, and have been pooled with Uganda, Tonga, and Mexico in Pool B for the men.

Japan are unlikely to qualify for the top four (currently in 7th place) and is in a tough Pool C in Munich with Kenya, Chile and Portugal.

The Asian teams will also first take part in the Melrose Shield Competition 2024 which is part of the Cathay / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 – and have all played each other many times.

The top four teams from the Challenger Series advance to the relegation play-off at the SVNS Grand Final in Madrid against teams ranked ninth to 12th from the HSBC SVNS 2024.

Four successful nations from this Grand Final play-off will secure their place in the HSBC SVNS 2025.

World Rugby Chief Competitions and Performance Officer Nigel Cass said: “We have seen a really impressive level of rugby sevens in the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 and as we reach the business end of the competition there is more at stake than ever before with the potential for four men’s and four women’s teams to reach the pinnacle HSBC SVNS in 2025 via the new promotion – relegation playoff event at the Grand Final in Madrid on 31 May – 2 June.

I wish the best of luck to all the competing teams in Munich and Krakow in what promises to be a thrilling pair of events.”

You can see more here about the standings and results in the HSBC Sevens Challenger Series 2024.

Women’s Pools – World Rugby HSBC 7s Challenger 2024 Leg#3 Poland

Sir Gordon Tietjens, who is a high-performance consultant to China’s women’s sevens programme, told us previously about his role and expectations with the current Women’s log leaders.

The New Zealand coach said via World Rugby this week “What’s really impressed me with the [China] girls is their skill set. They’re incredible passing off both hands, they’ve got a vision for the game, spatial awareness and they’re good athletes. It’s really promising when you’re looking forward.”

Photo: Martin Seras Lima for World Rugby – Pool A Captains including Thailand (left), HKCR (second from right) and China (right)

Argentina women’s captain Sofia Gonzalez said: “The team is really looking forward to the tournament this weekend and we have high expectations. I am very excited and really looking forward to taking to the field here in Krakow, representing Argentina and obviously with our main ambition of finishing amongst the top four and qualifying for Madrid.”

Poland captain Natalia Pamieta added, “This HSBC Challenger Series is crucial for us because we still have a chance to make our dreams come true and I really hope that for us it is not the last tournament in the series this year and we will go to Madrid in two weeks’ time. This is also a step on the way to the Olympics and we will keep preparing to be part of Paris 2024, so there a lot at stake for us this weekend and we are really looking forward for our first game on Saturday.”

Pool A

• China
• Thailand
• HKCR
• Czech

Pool B

• Argentina
• Uruguay
• Paraguay
• PNG

Pool C

• Belgium
• Poland
• Kenya
• Mexico

You can read more in our collaboration piece with HKCR for their respective teams in Round 3

Men’s Pools – World Rugby HSBC 7s Challenger 2024 Leg#3 Munich

Hong Kong China men’s captain Seb Ryan said: “Last time out in Montevideo we really grew throughout the tournament, so we’re hoping to do the same here.

It’s a straight shoot-out for that vital fourth position in Madrid between ourselves and the home team Germany so it doesn’t get much more exciting than that. It would mean everything to us to get on to HSBC SVNS 2025,” added the HKCR captain.

Log leaders, Uruguay men’s captain Diego Ardao, added: “We are here to secure our spot in Madrid but before thinking about Madrid we are focused on this tournament in Munich to try to achieve the first position again keep growing our confidence so that when we get to Madrid we are at the best level mentally, physically and tactically.”

Germany (who are tied with the HKCR men on the log) men’s captain John Dawn said: “It’s really exciting to play in front of our fans in Munich this weekend and the opportunity to be able to grow rugby here and across the whole of Germany is great. It’s a high pressure tournament for us with a lot at stake but we will take every game as it comes and not look too far ahead.

Rugby sevens has a massive festival culture so I would encourage everyone to come down to support us and enjoy themselves this weekend.”

Pool A

• Uruguay
• Germany
• Georgia
• PNG

Pool B

• HKCR
• Uganda
• Tonga
• Mexico

Pool C

• Kenya
• Chile
• Portugal
• Japan

Asian Squads – HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 Round 3

Thailand Women

HKCR Women

HKCR Men

How To Watch The HSBC Challenger 7s Series 2024

Both the Women’s and Men’s third legs will be available live and for free on RugbyPass TV.

Sign Up for the Rugby Asia 247 Newsletter Now To Receive the Latest Asian Rugby News (coming soon)

Sevens Rugby News 2024

• China Women Go Back To Back In World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024.
• World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 – Dates And Venues Announced.
• Max Woodward – What Makes Playing In Hong Kong So Special.
• HKCR Men’s Head Coach Jevon Groves Reflects On A Succesful Melrose Claymores Debut