Rugby sevens competition
2023 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series Hosts Date 20–30 April 2023 Nations 12 Champions Tonga Runners-up Belgium Third Germany
The 2023 Challenger Series for men's rugby sevens teams was the third season of the second-tier circuit that allowed a promotion pathway to the World Rugby Sevens Series .
The men's challenger tour had twelve national teams competing and was played as two tournaments on 20–22 and 28–30 April 2023 in Stellenbosch , South Africa,[ 1] with the winner gaining entry to the 2023 London Sevens core team qualifier.
Teams
There were 12 men's national teams competing in the Challenger Series for 2023.[ 2]
Schedule
The official schedule for the 2023 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series was:[ 3]
2023 Itinerary
Leg
Stadium
City
Dates
Winner
1
Markotter Stadium
Stellenbosch
20–22 April 2023
Tonga
2
28–30 April 2023
Belgium
Standings
Pool stage – Leg 1
All times are in SAST , South African Standard Time: (UTC+2 ).
Pool A
Tonga 29–7 Zimbabwe Try: Atieli Pakalani (2) Sione Tupou Kyren Taumoefolau Semisi MaasiCon: Atieli Pakalani Semisi MaasiReport Try: Martin MangongoCon: Tadius Dzandiwandira
Markotter Stadium Referee: Caua Ricardo Santos
Germany 12–7 Belgium Try: Niklas Koch Jack HuntCon: Niklas KochReport Try: Gaspard LalliCon: Isaac Montoisy
Markotter Stadium Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
Tonga 21–21 Belgium Try: John Tapueluelu Sione Tupou Kyren TaumoefolauCon: Atieli Pakalani Kyren Taumoefolau (2)Report Try: Vincent Hart Tornike Megrelidze Nathan BontemsCon: Vincent Hart (2) Isaac Montoisy
Markotter Stadium Referee: Robin Kaluzniak
Germany 34–7 Zimbabwe Try: Ben Ellermann John Dawe Jack Hunt (2) Philip Gleitze Nikolai KlewinghausCon: Niklas Koch Nikolai KlewinghausReport Try: Godfrey MagaramombeCon: Ryan Musumhi
Markotter Stadium Referee: Peter Martin
Zimbabwe 21–40 Belgium Try: Martin Mangongo Tadius Dzandiwandira Carlos MatematemaCon: Ryan Musumhi Tadius Dzandiwandira (2)Report Try: Corentin Lecloux Martin Marenne Ryan Godsmark Gaspard Lalli (2) Jens TorfsCon: Vincent Hart (5)
Markotter Stadium Referee: Morgan White
Germany 10–22 Tonga Try: Carlos Soteras Merz John DaweReport Try: John Tapueluelu Rodney Tongotea Laulea MauCon: Atieli Pakalani (2)Pen: Atieli Pakalani
Markotter Stadium Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
Pool B
Markotter Stadium Referee: Robin Kaluzniak
Chile 17–12 Italy Try: Ernesto Tchimino Benjamin Videla Manuel BustamanteCon: Diego WarnkenReport Try: Matthias Leon Douglas (2)Con: Francesco Bonavolontà
Markotter Stadium Referee: Morgan White
Hong Kong 24–17 Italy Try: Michael Coverdale Hugo Stiles Max Denmark Seb BrienCon: Russell Webb (2)Report Try: Massimo Cioffi Cristian Lai Nicolò TeneggiCon: Nicolò Teneggi
Markotter Stadium Referee: Tevita Vosalevu
Chile 20–19 Papua New Guinea Try: Diego Warnken Cristobal Game Manuel Bustamante (2)Report Try: Kunak Late Mustapha Kura Kadum MaisCon: Kunak Late Mustapha Kura
Markotter Stadium Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
Papua New Guinea 12–33 Italy Try: Derrick Voku Kadum MaisCon: Kunak LateReport Try: Riccardo Ghelli Matthias Leon Douglas (2) Federico Cuminetti (2)Con: Francesco Bonavolontà (2) Massimo Cioffi Nicolò Teneggi
Markotter Stadium Referee: Caua Ricardo Santos
Chile 14–7 Hong Kong Try: Diego Warnken Tomas SalasCon: Diego Warnken Tomas SalasReport Try: Liam HerbertCon: Russell Webb
Markotter Stadium Referee: Peter Martin
Pool C
South Korea 12–19 Jamaica Try: Seongdeok Choi Junchoul YangCon: Hyungoo JangReport Try: Ronaldeni Fraser (2) Aquile SmithCon: Lucas Roy-Smith Oscar Clayton
Markotter Stadium Referee: Tevita Vosalevu
Uganda 33–5 Brazil Try: Adrian Kasito Aaron Ofoyrwoth (2) Norbert OkenyCon: Aaron Ofoyrwoth (2) William NkorePen: 1Report Try: David Pascoa
Markotter Stadium Referee: Peter Martin
South Korea 5–17 Brazil Try: Junchoul YangReport Try: Laurent Bourda-Couhet Carlos Rafael Robson MoraisCon: Lucas Romeu
Markotter Stadium Referee: Morgan White
Uganda 36–10 Jamaica Try: Ian Munyani Adrian Kasito (2) Timothy Kisiga Norbert Okeny (2)Con: Aaron Ofoyrwoth (2) Timothy KisigaReport Try: Jack Rampton Aaron Lowe
Markotter Stadium Referee: Caua Ricardo Santos
Jamaica 12–17 Brazil Try: Mikel Facey Aaron LoweCon: Oscar ClaytonReport Try: Lucas Romeu Laurent Bourda-Couhet Rafael Dos TeixeiraCon: Lorenzo Massari
Markotter Stadium Referee: Robin Kaluzniak
Uganda 40–0 South Korea Try: Adrian Kasito (2) Desire Ayera Norbert Okeny (2) Alex AturindaCon: Aaron Ofoyrwoth (4) William NkoreReport
Markotter Stadium Referee: Tevita Vosalevu
Ranking of third-placed teams
Knockout stage – Leg 1
Cup bracket
Cup quarter-finals
Chile 14 - 21 Belgium Try: Ernesto Tchimino Gonzalo LaraCon: Diego Warnken Tomas SalasReport Try: Vincent Hart Gaspard Lalli Isaac MontoisyCon: Vincent Hart Ryan Godsmark Isaac Montoisy
Markotter Stadium Referee: Morgan White
Hong Kong 35–7 Brazil Try: Hugo Stiles Liam Herbert Ally Nardoni Russell Webb Pierce Mackinlay-WestCon: Russell Webb (5)Report Try: Robson MoraisCon: Lorenzo Massari
Markotter Stadium Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
Uganda 14–26 Germany Try: Aaron Ofoyrwoth Timothy KisigaCon: Aaron Ofoyrwoth (2)Report Try: Carlos Soteras Merz Ben Ellermann Jack Hunt Philip GleitzeCon: Niklas Koch (3)¡
Markotter Stadium Referee: Robin Kaluzniak
Tonga 29–7 Italy Try: John Tapueluelu John Ika Siaosi Huihui Kyren Taumoefolau (2)Con: Atieli PakalaniReport Try: Matthias Leon DouglasCon: Nicolò Teneggi
Markotter Stadium Referee: Caua Ricardo Santos
Cup semi-finals
Belgium 5–19 Germany Try: Martin MarenneReport Try: Bastian van der Bosch (2) Anton GleitzeCon: Bastian van der Bosch Niklas Koch
Markotter Stadium Referee: Morgan White
Hong Kong 0–33 Tonga Report Try: John Tapueluelu (2) Siaosi Huihui (2) Semisi MaasiCon: Atieli Pakalani (4)
Markotter Stadium Referee: Peter Martin
Third-place final
Belgium 21–26 Hong Kong Try: Tornike Megrelidze Victor André Julien BergerCon: Vincent Hart (2) Nathan BontemsReport Try: Max Denmark (2) James Christie (2)Con: Hugo Stiles (2) Russell Webb
Markotter Stadium Referee: Caua Ricardo Santos
Cup final
Germany 14–26 Tonga Try: Ben Ellermann Tim LichtenbergCon: Niklas Koch Nikolai KlewinghausReport Try: Soni Asi John Tapueluelu Kyren Taumoefolau Tevita ManukeaCon: Atieli Pakalani (3)
Markotter Stadium Referee: Peter Martin
5th–8th bracket
5th-place semifinals 5th-place final
22 April – Markotter Stadium
Chile 7
22 April – Markotter Stadium
Uganda 12
Uganda 19
22 April – Markotter Stadium
Italy 15
Brazil 7
Italy 22
7th-place final
22 April – Markotter Stadium
Chile 41
Brazil 0
5th-place semi-finals
Chile 7–12 Uganda Try: Gonzalo LaraCon: Tomas SalasReport Try: Micheal Okorach Desire AyeraCon: Aaron Ofoyrwoth
Markotter Stadium Referee: Caua Ricardo Santos
Brazil 7–22 Italy Try: Laurent Bourda-CouhetCon: Matheus Cruz SilvaReport Try: Nicholas Bordin Matthias Leon Douglas (2) Cristian LaiCon: Massimo Cioffi
Markotter Stadium Referee: Robin Kaluzniak
7th-place final
Chile 41–0 Brazil Try: Ernesto Tchimino Manuel Bustamante Diego Greiber (2) Jose Escobedo Alvaro Castro (2)Con: Diego Warnken (3)Report
Markotter Stadium Referee: Morgan White
5th-place final
Uganda 19–15 Italy Try: Aaron Ofoyrwoth Denis Etwau (2)Con: Aaron Ofoyrwoth William NkoreReport Try: Lorenzo Bruno Filippo Bozzoni Dewi Passarella
Markotter Stadium Referee: Tevita Vosalevu
9th–12th bracket
9th-place semi-finals
Jamaica 24–29 Zimbabwe Try: Jack Rampton Oscar Clayton Kyan Cherwayko Norvel StewartCon: Lucas Roy-Smith Oscar ClaytonReport Try: Takudzwa Kumadiro Martin Mangongo Ryan Musumhi Munesu Muneta Kudakwashe NyamakuraCon: Ryan Musumhi (2)
Markotter Stadium Referee: Tevita Vosalevu
Papua New Guinea 26–22 South Korea Try: Maluai Patala Kunak Late Mustapha Kura (2)Con: Kunak Late Mustapha Kura (2)Report Try: Hyungoo Jang (2) Chandeul Kim Junwoo LeeCon: Hyungoo Jang
Markotter Stadium Referee: Peter Martin
11th-place final
Markotter Stadium Referee: Caua Ricardo Santos
9th-place final
Zimbabwe 40–17 Papua New Guinea Try: Takudzwa Kumadiro Martin Mangongo Ryan Musumhi Munesu Muneta (2) Nigel TinarwoCon: Ryan Musumhi (5)Report Try: Mustapha Kura Kadum Mais Emmanuel AlfredCon: Maluai Patala
Markotter Stadium Referee: Tevita Vosalevu
Placings – Leg 1
Pool stage – Leg 2
All times are in SAST , South African Standard Time: (UTC+2 ).
Pool A
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
PF
PA
PD
Pts
Qualification
1
Chile
3
3
0
0
75
40
+35
9
Advance to quarter-finals
2
Tonga
3
2
0
1
120
62
+58
7
3
Italy
3
1
0
2
89
82
+7
5
4
Jamaica
3
0
0
3
26
86
−60
3
Markotter Stadium Referee: Caua Ricardo Santos
Markotter Stadium Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
Markotter Stadium Referee: Robin Kaluzniak
Markotter Stadium Referee: Peter Martin
Markotter Stadium Referee: Morgan White
Markotter Stadium Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
Pool B
Markotter Stadium Referee: Robin Kaluzniak
Markotter Stadium Referee: Morgan White
Markotter Stadium Referee: Tevita Vosalevu
Markotter Stadium Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
Markotter Stadium Referee: Caua Ricardo Santos
Markotter Stadium Referee: Peter Martin
Pool C
Markotter Stadium Referee: Tevita Vosalevu
Markotter Stadium Referee: Peter Martin
Markotter Stadium Referee: Morgan White
Markotter Stadium Referee: Caua Ricardo Santos
Markotter Stadium Referee: Robin Kaluzniak
Markotter Stadium Referee: Tevita Vosalevu
Ranking of third-placed teams
Knockout stage – Leg 2
Cup bracket
Cup quarter-finals
Markotter Stadium Referee: Morgan White
Markotter Stadium Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
Markotter Stadium Referee: Robin Kaluzniak
Markotter Stadium Referee: Caua Ricardo Santos
Cup semi-finals
Markotter Stadium Referee: Morgan White
Markotter Stadium Referee: Peter Martin
Third-place final
Markotter Stadium Referee: Caua Ricardo Santos
Cup final
Markotter Stadium Referee: Peter Martin
5th–8th bracket
5th-place semi-finals
Markotter Stadium Referee: Caua Ricardo Santos
Markotter Stadium Referee: Robin Kaluzniak
7th-place final
Markotter Stadium Referee: Morgan White
5th-place final
Markotter Stadium Referee: Tevita Vosalevu
9th–12th bracket
9th-place semi-finals
Markotter Stadium Referee: Tevita Vosalevu
Markotter Stadium Referee: Peter Martin
11th-place final
Markotter Stadium Referee: Caua Ricardo Santos
9th-place final
Markotter Stadium Referee: Tevita Vosalevu
Placings – Leg 2
See also
References
External links