Kenya Lionesses start promotion quest as Challenger Series 2025 kicks off

Kenya Lionesses, the national women’s rugby sevens team, will be in action on Saturday for the first leg of the HSBC 2025 Challenger Series at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.

Kenya, placed in Group D, will kick off their campaign against Samoa at 12:38 PM EAT, followed by a match against Poland at 7:30 PM EAT.

This will not be the first time Kenya faces Poland, as the two teams met in 2024 during the final match of the Challenger Series in Krakow.

That encounter saw Poland triumph 21-10, securing a fifth-place finish for the Lioness while Poland progressed to the next round in Madrid after their fourth finish.

Thus, Kenya aims to turn the tide, having already shown their strength with a 19-12 victory over them in a friendly at the RFUEA grounds last month.

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With their sights set on the HSBC SVNS world stage, national team head coach Dennis Mwanja has expressed confidence in the team’s preparation but emphasizes a measured approach, taking each game as it comes.

“The team is in good spirits and confident of a strong performance,” Mwanja stated, as quoted by Citizen Digital.

“But we don’t want to burden ourselves with the pressure of ‘must-win’ expectations. This is a marathon, not a sprint. We take each game as it comes knowing that Cape Town is just the first step in a three-stage qualification journey”

Despite entering the competition as a formidable side, Mwanja stresses the importance of avoiding overconfidence and maintaining discipline.

“We believe in our abilities, but we must stay disciplined,” Mwanja emphasized.

“Overconfidence can be just as dangerous as doubt. Everyone has a role to play, and if we stick to our game plan, we’ll be in a strong position.”

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With the second leg scheduled for 7-8 March at the same venue, the national team aims to secure their place in the 12-team competition, ensuring they finish in the top eight to qualify for the final round of the tournament at the Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium in Krakow on April 11–12.

The top four teams across all three rounds will secure their spots in the HSBC Sevens play-offs in Los Angeles, set for May 3-4, where they will compete for a place in the prestigious HSBC SVNS circuit.

Kenya Lionesses Squad in Cape Town

1. Naomi Amuguni

2. Christabel Lindo

3. Sheila Chajira

4. Stellah Wafula

5. Faith Livoi

6. Moreen Muritu

7. Sinaida Mokaya

8. Freshia Oduor

9. Judith Okumu

10. Grace Okulu (Captain)

11. Sharon Auma

12. Diana Ochieng

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2025 HSBC Challenger Series Pools

• Pool A – South Africa, Hong Kong China, Czech Republic

• Pool B – Argentina, Thailand, Mexico

• Pool C – Uganda, Belgium, Colombia

• Pool D – Kenya, Samoa, Poland

About the Challenger Series 2025

The dates and destinations of the HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 were unveiled as 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams from all six World Rugby regions will battle for promotion to HSBC SVNS.

The Challenger series begins with back-to-back events  in Cape Town on 1 – 2 and 7 – 8 March, with the top ranked eight men’s and women’s teams progressing to the third and final tournament at the Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium in Krakow on 11 – 12 April.

The four men’s and women’s teams with the most cumulative points gained across the three Challenger rounds will then qualify for the HSBC SVNS Play Off in Los Angeles on 3 – 4 May where they will face the bottom four ranked teams from HSBC SVNS 2025 in a high stakes promotion and relegation tournament with four coveted places in future SVNS at stake.