Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Argentina took home Bronze from the opening leg of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series in Dubai. The top-four finish puts them in the running for a spot at the Grand Final tournament in Madrid. Paraguay and Mexico were at the bottom of the table in 11th and 12th respectively.
China were the class of the field, defeating Kenya in the Cup Final. It was the Kenyans who knocked out Argentina in the Semi Final, denying the South Americans even a single point. Three tries from Marianela Escalante and two via Micaela Pallero saw Argentina past Uganda in the blowout Bronze Final.
Both Paraguay and Mexico were winless through the pool stage, and each side lost in the 9th place Semi Finals. Paraguay were narrowly beaten by Papua New Guinea and Mexico were downed by Hong Kong. In the 11th Place Final early tries from Chiara Gaete and Veronica Romero were enough to lead the Paraguayans past the Mexicans to avoid finishing last.
The second leg of the Challenger Series will take place in Montevideo beginning on March 8. At the end of three rounds, the top four teams will earn the right to compete for promotion to the senior circuit.
POOL MATCHES
POOL A
Thailand 15 – 0 Papua New Guinea
Belgium 14 – 5 Uganda
Thailand 19 – 7 Uganda
Belgium 31 – 10 Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea 17 – 24 Uganda
Belgium 17 – 7 Thailand
POOL B
Czechia 34 – 0 Mexico
China 12 – 17 Kenya
Czechia 12 – 10 Kenya
China 64 – 0 Mexico
Mexico 0 – 40 Kenya
China 30 – 7 Czechia
POOL C
Hong Kong 17 – 0 Paraguay
Poland 12 – 19 Argentina
Hong Kong 0 – 19 Argentina
Poland 45 – 5 Paraguay
Paraguay 12 – 33 Argentina
Poland 33 – 0 Hong Kong
KNOCKOUT MATCHES
9th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Papua New Guinea 33 – 26 Paraguay
Hong Kong 22 – 10 Mexico
CUP QUARTER FINALS
China 31 – 10 Poland
Belgium 12 – 17 Uganda
Argentina 22 – 12 Thailand
Kenya 22 – 12 Czechia
11th PLACE FINAL
Paraguay 12 – 5 Mexico
9th PLACE FINAL
Papua New Guinea 31 – 0 Hong Kong
CUP SEMI FINALS
China 45 – 5 Uganda
Argentina 0 – 17 Kenya
7th PLACE FINAL
Thailand 31 – 12 Czechia
5th PLACE FINAL
Poland 5 – 10 Belgium
BRONZE FINAL
Uganda 10 – 36 Argentina
CUP FINAL
China 19 – 5 Kenya
