Kenya women celebrate their Cup victory at the 2025 HSBC Sevens Challenger - Cape Town 1 at Athlone Sports Stadium on March 2, 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. [World Rugby]
Kenya Lionesses have taken a significant step towards securing a spot in the HSBC SVNS after a triumphant start in the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 in Cape Town.
The Kenyan women's sevens team put on a stellar performance, clinching victory in the opening round of the series, just as their male counterparts did en route to their own promotion last
In a thrilling semi-final clash, Kenya edged hosts South Africa 19-15 before battling past Argentina 17-12 in a tense final. The victory marked a historic moment for the Lionesses, who had never won a Challenger Series event before. Their success in Cape Town puts them in a strong position as they aim for promotion to the HSBC SVNS.
Amid jubilant celebrations, Kenya captain Grace Okulu expressed her pride in the team's achievement.
"This victory is nice because we've never won a Challenger series. It is a milestone for us," Okulu said. "I'm happy for the team, and I'm delighted for everyone who supports us. We must carry on with the momentum and prepare hard for the next series this coming weekend. It has been an amazing journey for us, and we are happy that things are working out for us."
The Challenger Series continues with another round in Cape Town this weekend before the top eight men's and women's teams advance to the final tournament in Krakow, Poland, on April 11-12. From there, the four teams with the highest cumulative points from the three rounds will earn a spot in the HSBC SVNS Play-Off in Los Angeles on May 3-4.
At the play-offs, they will compete against the bottom four ranked teams from the HSBC SVNS 2025 in a high-stakes promotion and relegation battle. The top four teams from this showdown will secure coveted places in the global HSBC SVNS circuit.
Introduced in 2020, the Challenger Series has provided a crucial platform for emerging teams to gain exposure and compete for a place at the highest level of rugby sevens. With their impressive start, Kenya Lionesses have set their sights on making history by earning their place among the world's elite. [Washington Onyango]