Kenya Lionesses brace for Pool A showdown in HSBC Challenger Series second leg

The Lionesses celebrate after a win over Argentina in the first leg of the HSBC Challenger Series finals. (Photo: Kenya Rugby Union)

By Erick Kariuki
Monday, March 3, 2025

The team heads into the tournament on a high after a dominant performance in the first leg.

The Lionesses have been pooled in Pool A for the second leg of the 2025 HSBC Challenger Series, where they will face East African rivals Uganda and European contenders Belgium at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 7-8.

The team heads into the tournament on a high after a dominant performance in the first leg. They topped their pool with commanding victories over Samoa (20-5) and Poland (29-5), securing a spot in the semifinals.

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Against hosts South Africa, the Lionesses staged a remarkable comeback from a 0-10 deficit to win 19-15, with key contributions from Naomi Amuguni, Sharon Auma, and Freshia Oduor.

In the final, Captain Grace Okulu led by example, delivering a standout performance that set the tone for a hard-fought 17-12 victory over Argentina. The win marked a historic moment as the Lionesses claimed their first-ever Challenger Series title and secured a place among the top four teams in the competition.

Amid celebrations, Okulu reflected on the achievement.

🚨LIONESS Update! 🚨

With the 1st leg wrapped up, the Kenya Lionesses shift focus to the next challenge🏉.
They’ve been drawn in Pool A alongside familiar foes Uganda and European contenders Belgium, for the 2nd leg of the 2025 #ChallengerSeries. #Lionesses #MpesaPowersKenya7s… pic.twitter.com/Z6YiDvJ0RZ
— Kenya Rugby (@OfficialKRU) March 3, 2025

"This victory is nice because we've never won a Challenger Series. It is a milestone for us. 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," Okulu said.

With their sights now set on the second leg, the Lionesses will be looking to build on their success.

The top eight teams after the first two rounds will proceed to the final round in Krakow, Poland, on April 11-12.

From there, the top four teams in the overall standings will qualify for the HSBC SVNS Play-Off in Los Angeles on May 3-4, where they will battle for a place in the elite HSBC SVNS circuit.