Krakow played host to an action packed finale of the HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 that entertained fans at Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium.
Although Germany were leading the men’s competition coming into the concluding round of the tournament, Portugal were able to overcome them in the semi-finals to set themselves up for a place in the final against Samoa.
Fans were treated to a tantalising showdown with the teams due to go into half-time level had it not been for the impressive skill of Manuel Vareiro with an up-and-under-kick which saw them edge into the lead. Ultimately Portugal were able to keep ahead with Fabio Conceicao sealing their fate. Not only did the Portuguese team take the title in Krakow, they also cemented themselves as HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 Champions having previously also won the second round of the series in Cape Town.
Portugal’s Captain Fabio Conceicao commented after the win: “It’s been amazing for us as a young group coming to this tournament with big teams. We knew we could beat anyone and that’s what we did, we showed it on the pitch.”
South Africa capped off a dominant weekend in Krakow in the women’s competition with a convincing 21-12 win over Argentina in the final showdown of the day, following a 22-0 shutout against the same opponents the day before.
Having twice finished runners-up to Kenya in the series, this time it was South Africa’s moment to shine. The Springbok Women won all their fixtures across both days, showcasing clinical execution and relentless pace. Their unbeaten run in Krakow secured them the top prize and marked a standout performance to close out the Challenger series on a high and reaffirm their status as a powerhouse on the sevens stage.
History was made as Kenya Women were crowned overall champions of the HSBC Sevens Challenger Series, following a string of impressive performances across all three rounds. They kicked off their campaign in style by winning the opening two tournaments in Cape Town, displaying consistency, skill, and resilience throughout.
Their dominance in Cape Town set the tone — securing back-to-back titles with commanding wins. Despite a tough final leg in Krakow, where they finished third at Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium, their cumulative success was enough to seal the series crown.
Kenya’s Captain Grace Okulu said after raising the trophy: It’s actually been a tough couple of days in Krakow but we bounced back and we were able to win the series. Since last year we didn’t qualify so this year we really had a lot to do.
It actually feels amazing, I don’t think anyone in Kenya Rugby has ever done this! But being the first females and for us to be the champions of the series, it actually means so much to us.
It’s always nice having Kenyans around, it’s always a party! If you know where the party is, you’ll always find Kenyans! We are so lucky so have our fans come to support us all the way.”
LOS ANGELES QUALIFICATION SECURED
In a turn of events, Canada could not continue their winning streak on the final day with a defeat to Samoa who saved their best performance until last. Their passionate four-try display secured them a place in the semi-finals and an all-important spot in the HSBC SVNS Play-Offs which will take place in Los Angeles on 3-4 May.
Samoa’s Meni Manase commented after the historic moment: “Our first goal was to qualify for LA and that’s ticked off. It’s an awesome achievement. It feels so unreal! First time being overseas and coming from a small country, it really means a lot to our coaches and our families.”
In the women’s competition, an exciting dual between Thailand and Argentina in the opening round went down to the wire with one point separating the teams. That point proved crucial, not only giving Argentina the win but also ensuring that Colombia had enough points to progress to Los Angeles.
The Challenger was introduced in February 2020 to boost the development of rugby sevens across the globe. The short format of the game has experienced huge growth over the past two decades since the introduction of the global sevens series and becoming an Olympic sport at the Rio 2016 Games.
The 2025 edition of the Challenger competition kicked off with combined events over two weekends in Cape Town on 1-2 and 7-8 March, followed by Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium in Krakow on 11-12 April. Next up, all eyes are on the HSBC SVNS Play-off in Los Angeles on 3-4 May.
Impulsive Flower
Rugby is one of America’s fastest growing sports – Though American football is far more culturally relevant, rugby is growing fast stateside. The sport is particularly popular in Colorado and Utah, where around 32,000 men and 11,000 women are involved in senior-level rugby.
Cricket
Although the Nelson is feared by some players, there is no solid evidence that it is actually inauspicious. Regardless, some people choose to take precautions. Umpire and former cricketer David Shepherd would lift one leg up when it is a bowler’s turn to run in to bowl and the score is at 111. Fans would cheer him on when he did this.