HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger 2025 Kicks Off in Cape Town
Twelve international men’s and women’s teams have arrived in Cape Town for the opening round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger on 1-2 March. This marks the first step toward qualification for next year’s HSBC SVNS.
Tournament Format and Key Dates
The first two rounds of the HSBC Challenger 2025 will take place at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on 1-2 and 7-8 March. The top eight men’s and women’s teams will advance to the third round in Krakow on 11-12 April.
Following the third round, the four highest-ranked men’s and women’s teams will earn a spot in the high-stakes HSBC SVNS Play-Off in Los Angeles on 3-4 May, where they will compete for promotion. The competition brings together teams from all six World Rugby regions, emphasizing the global development of rugby sevens.
Captains' Photo Call and Venue Details
On Thursday, captains from all 24 teams gathered outside their team hotel, overlooking Cape Town Harbour and Table Mountain, ahead of the tournament’s launch. The matches will begin at 10:00 local time (GMT+2) on Saturday, 1 March, with the finals scheduled for 19:23 (women’s) and 19:54 (men’s) on Sunday, 2 March.
Road to Promotion
Last season, Kenya and Uruguay (men) and China (women) secured their promotion to HSBC SVNS after triumphing in the Challenger Play-Offs. This year’s tournament follows a similar pathway, offering teams a chance to reach the highest level of international sevens rugby.
Pool Draws
Men’s Pools:
- Pool A: Germany, Japan, Georgia
- Pool B: Chile, Tonga, Portugal
- Pool C: Samoa, Uganda, Brazil
- Pool D: Canada, Hong Kong China, Madagascar
Women’s Pools:
- Pool A: South Africa, Czechia, Hong Kong China
- Pool B: Argentina, Thailand, Mexico
- Pool C: Belgium, Uganda, Colombia
- Pool D: Poland, Kenya, Samoa
The first two rounds will mirror the format of the HSBC SVNS Cape Town event from December 2024. The four pool winners will proceed directly to the semi-finals, while second-place teams will compete for fifth to eighth place. Third-place teams will vie for ninth to twelfth positions.
Player and Captain Insights
- Tessho Yamato (Japan men’s captain): “Our goal is to reach the play-offs. This is my first international event, and I want to make an impression.”
- Mathrin Simmers (South Africa women’s captain): “Playing at home is an incredible honor. Winning here would inspire younger players to pursue international rugby.”
- Tim Lichtenberg (Germany men’s captain): “We aim for a Top 4 finish. Facing Georgia’s physicality and Japan’s structure will be a challenge, but we are confident.”
- Pauline Gernaey (Belgium women’s captain): “We love playing in South Africa. We have fond memories from past finals, and our young players are eager to gain experience.”
A Growing Global Platform
The HSBC Challenger was launched in 2020 to enhance the development of rugby sevens and provide a clear path to top-tier competition. The 2025 edition spans three major tournaments: Cape Town (1-2 & 7-8 March), Krakow (11-12 April), and Los Angeles (3-4 May).
Fans can follow all the action live on RugbyPass.tv and through domestic broadcast partners.