The 91原创 men's road back to the elite HSBC SVNS series lies through South Africa and Poland.
World Rugby released the schedule for its second-tier HSBC Challenger Series on Thursday. Cape Town will host the opening two rounds of the rugby sevens competition on March 1-2 and 7-8 with 12 men鈥檚 and 12 women鈥檚 teams taking part.
The top eight-placed men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 sides will then progress to the third round in Krakow on April 11-12.
The top four men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 teams at end of the third round move on for the HSBC SVNS promotion/relegation playoff May 3-4 in Carson, Calif., where they will meet the bottom four countries from the HSBC SVNS circuit to determine the final four core teams for the 2026 season.
The 91原创 men were relegated from the top tier in June in Madrid, beaten 22-14 by Spain in a win-or-bust match.
It was a 29th straight defeat for the 91原创 men, who dropped into the relegation playoff after finishing last in the 12-country HSBC SVNS standings.
The Canada men, who finished eighth at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, had been a core team on the top sevens circuit since 2012-13 and lifted the trophy in Singapore in 2017. But a disastrous 3-26-0 season ended that stay,
The Kenya and Uruguay men and China women won promotion from the Challenger Series this year.
The 91原创 men qualified for the Challenger Series last month by winning the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens, thumping host Trinidad and Tobago 38-0 in the final. The tournament-favourite 91原创 men outscored their opposition 169-0 over five matches.
Canada joins Brazil, Chile, Georgia, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Madagascar, Portugal and Uganda in the men's Challenger Series.
On the women's side, Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, Czechia, Hong Kong, Kenya, Mexico, Thailand, Poland, South Africa and Uganda have booked their place in the Challenger Series.
The remaining men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 teams will qualify through the Dec. 7-8 Oceania Rugby Sevens tournament.
91原创s Emma Gallagher and Kristine Lovatt have been appointed to the Challenger Series officiating panel, with Gallagher making her debut on the circuit.
The 91原创 women retained their place on the HSBC SVNS series and compete in Cape Town this weekend after finishing eighth Sunday in the season opener in Dubai.
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This report by The 91原创 Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024
Neil Davidson, The 91原创 Press
