We recap all the action from a rain-soaked day one in Stellenbosch, South Africa as the quarter-final line-ups begin to take shape in both the men’s and women’s tournaments.
- Poland, Colombia, China and Belgium women finish day one with perfect win records
- Germany, Hong Kong China, Chile and Uganda men are undefeated on Thursday
- Winner of women’s competition to secure Sevens World Series entry
- Men’s competition winner to enter a four-team play-off at the HSBC London Sevens in May 2023 with the winner achieving the coveted Sevens World Series 2024 status
- Day two begins at 09:00 (GMT+2) on Friday, 21 April
Both the men’s and women’s quarter-final line-ups are beginning to take shape at the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2023 following a rain-affected day of action in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Poland, Colombia, China and Belgium booked their spots in the last-eight of the women’s tournament by winning both of the matches at Markötter Stadium on Thursday.
In the men’s tournament, meanwhile, Germany, Hong Kong China, Chile and Uganda will start day two guaranteed of their place in the quarter-finals after finished undefeated on day one.
The final pool matches will be played on Friday morning at 09:00 local time (GMT +2), before the knockout stage gets underway at 13:54.
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WOMEN’S DAY ONE RECAP:
Belgium kicked off the day’s proceedings with a 27-12 win over Papua New Guinea on Field A at Markötter Stadium. Over on Field B, Madagascar recorded their only win of the day when they defeated Mexico 26-7.
China scored ten tries on Day one, winning both their matches without conceding any points to lead the overall women’s standings with a +58 points differential.
Hosts South Africa were held to a 7-all draw by Czechia in their Group E opening match, before producing a clinical 36-0 win against Mexico.
Poland made it two from two wins to top Group D with wins over Paraguay and Hong Kong China by a combined total of 46 points for and only seven against.
Colombia won 15-12 over Hong Kong China, and 32-12 over their South American counterparts Paraguay. They also advance to the last-eight with a match still to play.
Four spots are still up for grabs in the women’s quarterfinals of the competition. These will be decided in Session One of Day 2 of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2023, which kicks off at 09:00 local time (GMT +2) with Papua New Guinea taking on Thailand and Mexico facing Czechia in pool F and E respectively.
The ultimate prize at stake for the tournament winners in the women’s competition, which will be decided on aggregate points over the two events, is promotion to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2024 as the 12th and final team.
MEN’S DAY ONE RECAP:
Germany ran in eight tries in their two matches and finished with a +32 points differential to secure a place in the quarterfinals of the competition. They beat their European counterparts Belgium 12-7, before they closed the day’s play with a 34-7 win over Zimbabwe.
In Pool B, Hong Kong China and Chile made it two from two wins to secure maximum points from the day.
Uganda, who scored 11 tries in their opening two matches, are the only team in Pool C with a guaranteed spot in the quarterfinal. Jamaica will play Brazil in the men’s first fixture on Day 2. Both teams are currently on 4 points and the winner of that match will get an automatic qualification to the last-eight.
World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 🏆
🚺 🇨🇳 12-0 🇹🇭
🚹 🇭🇰 26 v 5 🇵🇬
🚹 🇰🇷 12 v 19 🇯🇲
🚺🇭🇰 12 v 15 🇨🇴#AsiaRugby #Thailand7s #WR7CS #WorldRugby #7sChallengerSeries @HongKongRugby pic.twitter.com/Hgi0D2BJWj— Asia Rugby (@asiarugby) April 20, 2023
Like with the women’s competition, four spots are up for grabs in the men’s competition.
The winner of the men’s competition, which will also be decided on aggregate points over the two events, will enter a four-team play-off at the HSBC London Sevens in May together with the teams placed 12th to 14th after 10 rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023. The winner of the play-off will achieve the coveted Sevens World Series 2024 status.
Day two will kick off at 09:00 local time with the a Pool F encounter between PNG and Thailand women, and Mexico vs Czechia in Pool E. The quarterfinal matches will take place start at 13:54 after the conclusion of the group stage fixtures.
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