The National Women’s Rugby team, the Lionesses left today for Cape town, South Africa to begin their hunt for a place in the prestigious HSBC Sevens series which has been their target all along.
They are scheduled to kick off their campaign against Samoa in the HSBC World rugby Sevens Challenger scheduled to kick off on Saturday next week.
The lionesses who have been training at the RFUEA Nairobi in readiness for the Challenger series are drawn in Pool D with Poland and Samoa whom they have met before in previous series. Uganda is in Pool C with Belgium and Colombia while Thailand, Mexico and Argentina are in Pool B.
Hosts South Africa are drawn in Poool A with Czechia and Hong Kong. Pool winners will progress to the semi finals while the second placed teams will play for the 5th to 8th places .
Lionesses head coach David Mwanja expressed his confidence in the selected team, noting the squad’s dedication and preparation ahead of the challenge.
“The girls have been working hard in training, and I am confident they will put in the work on the field. This is a talented and resilient group, and I believe they are ready for the task ahead,” he said.
The teams that will finish last in their pools will compete for the 9th to 12th positions.
Cape town will host the opening two legs with the first slated next weekend on the 1st and 2nd of March while the second leg will take place a week later on the 7th and 8th of March .
The top eight ranked teams will then progress to the third and final tournament in April in Krakow , Poland where the four men and women’s teams with the most cumulative points across the three rounds will qualify for the HSBC sevens playoff in Los Angeles in May this year.
Kenya Lionesses Full Squad:
Naomi Amuguni, Christabel Lindo, Sheila Chajira,Stellah Wafula,Faith Livoi,Moreen Muritu,Sinaida Mokaya,Freshia Oduor,Judith Okumu,Grace Okulu (Captain), Sharon Auma, Diana Ochieng.
CAPE TOWN CHALLENGER SERIES
FIXTURES
Saturday,1st March 2025
Kenya Vs Samoa
Kenya Vs Poland
