Kenya Lionesses edge Argentina to clinch HSBC Challenger Series title
Kenya Lionesses are the HSBC Challenger Series champions after a hard-fought 17-12 victory over Argentina in the final at Athlone Sports Stadium on Sunday, 2 March. The win marks a historic milestone for the team, securing their first-ever Challenger Series title and boosting their chances of earning core status in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Kenya Lionesses are the HSBC Challenger Series champions after edging Argentina 17-12 in a thrilling final at Athlone Sports Stadium on Sunday, 2 March. The victory is a historic moment for the team, securing their first-ever leg of the Challenger Series and taking a major step toward core status in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Captain Grace Adhiambo set the pace with an early try, slicing through Argentina’s defence and converting to hand Kenya a 7-0 lead.
Argentina hit back just before halftime through Marianela Escalante, who capitalised on a loose ball in Kenya’s 22, kicking it past Sinaida Nyachio before grounding it for a try.
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After the break, the Lionesses raised the intensity, pinning Argentina deep in their half. Judith Auma bulldozed past defenders in the 11th minute to extend Kenya’s lead before striking again two minutes later. A quick offload from Nyachio allowed Auma to shrug off two defenders and score, putting Kenya firmly in control at 17-5.
Argentina pulled one back through Candela Delgado, with Sofia Gonzalez converting to narrow the gap to 17-12. But Kenya held their nerve, forcing an error at the restart. With time expired, Nyachio booted the ball into touch, sealing a landmark victory for the Lionesses.
Kenya dominated throughout the tournament, topping their pool with wins over Samoa (20-5) and Poland (29-7).
“The pool games were not as easy as they seemed, but the ladies proved resilient, winning all their matches. The semi-final against South Africa was a mental game, and after beating them on home soil, we knew nothing could stop us. The final was physically manageable, but the girls struggled mentally due to complacency. Nevertheless, we pushed through to secure the victory. We are now focused on another podium finish this weekend. This is a great milestone for the team, as we have never achieved such a feat before. This might be the best Lionesses team ever,” Head Coach Dennis Mwanja said.
In the semi-finals, the Lionesses staged a stunning 19-15 comeback against hosts South Africa, overturning a 0-10 deficit. Naomi Amuguni, Sharon Auma, and Freshia Oduor delivered crucial tries to eliminate the hosts and set up the final showdown with Argentina.
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