World Rugby’s Sevens Challenger Series for 2023
features a pair of three-day combined men’s and women’s events
scheduled to take place at Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch,
South Africa on 20-22 and 28-30 April 2023.
The winner of the 12-team women’s Challenger
Series will get automatic promotion to the Sevens World Series
2024, while the winner of the men’s, which
also features 12 teams, will enter a four team play-off at the
HSBC London Sevens in May 2023 together with the teams placed
12th-14th after ten rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series,
with the winner of the play-off achieving Sevens World Series 2024
status.
The 12 women’s teams competing are Belgium, China,
Colombia, Czechia, Hong Kong, Madagascar, Mexico, Papua New
Guinea, Poland, South Africa, Thailand and a team from South
America yet to be confirmed.
The 12 men’s teams are Belgium, Brazil, Chile,
Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Papua New Guinea,
Tonga, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
The teams qualified via their ranking positions
within their relevant regional competitions and the pool draw will
take place once the full team line- ups are confirmed in early
2023.
The tournament replicates 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 bronze and gold medal matches.
“Rugby sevens is a key driver of global growth for
our sport, particularly in emerging nations and continues to
expand and captivate audiences with its dynamic, skillful and
exciting nature, boosted by its highly impactful and successful
appearances at the Olympic Games in Rio and Tokyo,” said Nigel
Cass, World Rugby Chief Competitions and Performance Officer. “The Challenger Series provides a clear pathway to
reach the Sevens World Series, and teams from all six World Rugby
regions have the opportunity to achieve their dreams and reach the
pinnacle level of international rugby sevens through their efforts
in the Challenger Series.”
In 2024 the Challenger Series is expected to
increase to three rounds with the top four ranked teams entering
a play-off with the bottom four placed Sevens World Series at a
Grand Finale event, meaning four men’s and four women’s teams will
have the opportunity to achieve promotion to the pinnacle level of
international rugby sevens every year from 2024 onwards.
