2025 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series: Dates, Locations, and Women’s Qualification

World Rugby has officially announced the schedule and format for the 2025 Sevens Challenger Series, with three rounds set to take place in March and April. The stakes are high, as the top four teams at the end of the series will qualify for the HSBC SVNS Playoff in Los Angeles on May 3-4, where they’ll compete for promotion to the elite SVNS circuit.

2025 Challenger Series Schedule and Format

  • Cape Town, South Africa – March 1-2 & March 7-8
    • 12 women’s and 12 men’s teams will compete in back-to-back tournaments.
  • Krakow, Poland – April 11-12
    • The top eight teams from Cape Town advance to this final round.
  • HSBC SVNS Playoff, Los Angeles, USA – May 3-4
    • The top four Challenger teams will take on the bottom four SVNS core teams in a high-stakes relegation and promotion tournament.

Women’s Teams Qualified for 2025

Teams secured their spots through regional qualifier held between June and December 2024. The confirmed teams include:

  • Europe: Belgium, Czechia, Poland
  • South America: Argentina, Colombia
  • Africa: Kenya, South Africa, Uganda
  • Asia: Hong Kong, Thailand
  • North America: Mexico
  • Oceania: Samoa

Past Champions and Growing Competition

The Challenger Series continues to expand as a clear pathway to the HSBC SVNS. Last season, China’s women secured promotion after a dominant campaign, joining Kenya and Uruguay’s men in reaching the top tier.

Challenger Series History (Women’s)

SeasonRoundsChampionRunner-upThirdFourth
2020Canceled
20221JapanPolandChinaKenya
20232South AfricaBelgiumChinaPoland
20243ChinaArgentinaBelgiumPoland

With an expanded competition structure and more teams from across six World Rugby regions, the 2025 Challenger Series promises to be the most competitive yet.

Stay tuned for full tournament details, broadcast information, and team rosters as the series kicks off in March!

Past Results


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