HSBC WORLD RUGBY SEVENS CHALLENGER 2025 DATES CONFIRMED

After much anticipation, World Rugby has unveiled the new format, venues and details for the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 (read full announcement via World Rugby). Hong Kong China Men's and Women's 7s stars both qualified for the tournament, following success at the recent Asia Rugby Sevens Series. 

In a new-look format, the three rounds will be taking place between March and April 2025 (two in South Africa and a final round in Krakow, Poland) to decide the top four teams that qualify for the HSBC SVNS Play Off competition in Los Angeles on the final HSBC SVNS Series leg and a chance to gain promotion to HSBC SVNS Series for 2026.

The Challenger series begins with back-to-back events in Cape Town, South Africa, and only the top-ranked eight men’s and women’s teams progress to the third and final tournament at the Henryk Reyman's Municipal Stadium in Krakow, Poland.

• Leg 1: Cape Town, 1-2 Mar (all 12 teams)
• Leg 2: Cape Town, 7-8 Mar (all 12 teams)
• Leg 3: Krakow, 11-12 Apr (top 8 teams)

World Rugby explained that "The four men’s and women’s teams with the most cumulative points gained across the three Challenger rounds will then qualify for the HSBC SVNS Play Off in Los Angeles on 3-4 May, where they will face the bottom four ranked teams from HSBC SVNS 2025.”

Hong Kong China Will Be Better Prepared

Paul John, Head Coach of the Hong Kong China 7s Programme, said of the timing of the schedule of the series, “It is good to know now, as with the last series and the first event being in Dubai in January, it was quite soon for us, and we didn't have enough preparation. We had to give the teams time off as they had been going for a full 52 weeks, so I am excited about the fact that we have longer preparation time going into March 2025 in Cape Town as we will restart at the beginning of January. It gives us a good amount of time to prepare, and we know most of the opposition aside from the Oceania qualifiers.”

He said of the challenge at hand, after the men just missed out on a top four placement last season (ending up 5th on the log) and a series in which the women finished 9th overall, “It's going to be tough, but last year in the final two tournaments I thought we did well, the men and women. We know we are capable of challenging there, and the target is to qualify with the aim to get into the top 8 to reach the third leg in Poland.”

Squad Depth And Selections

Paul John acknowledged that both the women and men have managed to build their squad depth due to the good planning and work of the management and players. The teams gave debuts to a number of players over the past year, including in the recently completed Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2024 – which the men won without losing a game – while the women came in 3rd overall. The development squads (the Dragons) have also just returned from competing at the Emirates Dubai 7s 2024.

“We have managed to build depth and bigger squads, and we will plan as much as we can, but we know we need to be flexible. We are waiting for World Rugby to let us know how big the squads can be in Cape Town and we will need to make those decisions in terms of squads as well as injury cover and which extra players to have training with us to stay competitive and keep everyone game-ready,” he added.

As the players enjoy some rest in December, there are already plans in motion to ensure the squads will be ready for the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 in March.

Paul John explained, “We are talking about taking the men to Fukuoka, Japan (where the Japan Rugby Football Union JAPAN BASE elite national rugby training centre is located), while we are in talks to have the women have some scrimmages with the Chinese women as we will need some preparation for those tournaments in Cape Town.”

Both Hong Kong China sides will also be competing in the Melrose Claymores competitions at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2025, which takes place at the new Kai Tak Stadium from 28–30 March 2025, with the invitational teams to be confirmed.

Who Has Qualified?

The 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams from all six World Rugby regions will battle for promotion to HSBC SVNS in the new format. All teams qualify for the Challenger via regional competitions, and the only remaining men’s and women’s teams will qualify through the Oceania Rugby Sevens tournament being played on 7-8 December 2024.

Women's Teams: World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025

1. Argentina
2. Belgium
3. Colombia
4. Czechia
5. Hong Kong China
6. Kenya
7. Mexico
8. Thailand
9. Poland
10. South Africa
11. Uganda
12. Samoa

Men's Teams: World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025

1. Brazil
2. Canada
3. Chile
4. Georgia
5. Germany
6. Japan
7. Hong Kong China
8. Madagascar
9. Portugal
10. Uganda
11. Samoa
12. Tonga

Match Officials: World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025

Two of our Hong Kong China match officials will be involved in the series, Craig Chan and Morgan White.