DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, January 14, 2024 — Kenya’s sevens rugby team made an impressive start to their campaign at the HSBC Sevens Challenger, securing victory in Dubai and setting their sights on a return to the top tier after last year’s relegation. The Kenyan team clinched the gold medal in a hard-fought final against Chile, emerging triumphant with a scoreline of 12-5.
Co-captain Tony Omondi expressed the team’s elation, stating, “We are super happy. We knew this Challenger event in Dubai was very crucial for us to start on a high, and now we must carry on with the momentum until the last tournament.”
In a thrilling semi-final, Kenya defeated Uruguay 21-5, while Chile earned their spot in the final with a 15-7 victory over previously unbeaten Germany. Uruguay claimed the bronze medal, overcoming Germany 12-7 in a fiercely contested match.
The women’s competition saw China dominate, securing gold with a convincing 19-5 win over Kenya in the final. China avenged their earlier loss to Kenya in the pool match with this impressive victory. China’s Chen Keyi expressed her pride, stating, “Kenya is a very physical team, so I’m proud of our tackling and how hard we worked for each other.”
The bronze in the women’s category went to Argentina, who defeated Uganda 36-10. The tournament showcased the increasing competitiveness and global growth of rugby sevens, with teams from four different continents reaching the semi-finals.
Nigel Cass, World Rugby Chief Competitions and Performance Officer, praised the success of the Challenger in Dubai, saying, “It was a great demonstration of the potential for sevens to continue to evolve and excite fans around the world on the road to the Olympic Games Paris 2024.”
Looking ahead to the next rounds in Montevideo, Uruguay, and Krakow, Poland, Cass highlighted the significance of the competition, with the top four placed men’s and women’s teams qualifying for the promotion and relegation play-off competition at the HSBC SVNS 2024 Grand Final in Madrid.
The Challenger, introduced in 2020 to boost the global development of rugby sevens, has evolved into a key pathway to the top level of the sport. The 2024 edition consists of three rounds, offering an expanded and highly competitive platform for teams aiming to make their mark in the world of rugby sevens.
