The eight best African women’s rugby 7s nations will meet in Tunisia to compete for the continental title, but above all an Olympic quota for the Paris 2024 Games. Find out what you need to know about the tournament scheduled to take place in Monastir from 14 to 15 October.
An Olympic quota for the Paris 2024 Games is up for grabs in Monastir from 14 to 15 October.
The city in northeastern Tunisia is hosting the Olympic Qualification Tournament (OQT) of the African Women’s Rugby 7s Regional Associations. Eight nations are participating, but only one will join France, New Zealand, Australia, the United States, Ireland, Brazil and Great Britain at the next Olympics.
While the South Africans are favourites, it should not be forgotten that they have never competed in the women’s Olympic rugby tournament. Kenya represented the African continent at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. But be careful, it would be a serious mistake to sum up this event as a confrontation between these two leading nations of African rugby 7s…
Teams to watch, group, schedule, how to watch live: find out everything you need to know about the African Women’s Rugby OQT.
Teams to watch at the African Women’s Rugby OQT
South Africa are the overwhelming favourites for the African Women’s Rugby 7s Regional Associations Olympic Qualification Tournament. Proving their dominance on a continental scale, the Springboks have been the only African representatives in the World Rugby Seven Series since 2020 with participation in one stage per season.
The South Africans will now have to assume this status on the pitch of the Mustapha Ben Jannet Stadium. And it won’t be easy, as the result of the last Africa Women’s Sevens Cup final proves. In 2022, already in Tunisia, South Africa won the title after winning the final by a single point against Madagascar (15-14).
The Ladies Makis have been growing steadily in recent years. Last year, they even had the honour of participating in the 7 Rugby World Cup 2022s. Will this experience be enough to allow them to climb the last step and discover the Olympic Games? The two days of competition scheduled in Monastir will tell us.
At home, Tunisia will try to win the Olympic quota. The Tunisians prepared for this deadline by sharing a training camp with the France team during the summer. They will try to take advantage of this learning to return to France next summer.
Kenya will also be formidable. Since Rio 2016 and the entry of rugby 7s into the Olympic programme, no other country has represented Africa at the Olympics in women’s rugby sevens. Will the Lionesses make it three?
African Women’s Rugby OQT Groups
Group A
- South Africa
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zimbabwe
Group B
- Madagascar
- Kenya
- Zambia
- Ghana
African Women’s Rugby OQT Program
Times indicated in local time, to get French time, add an hour
Saturday, October 14
- 9:00 am: Tunisia – Uganda
- 9:22 am: South Africa v Zimbabwe
- 9:44 am: Kenya v Zambia
- 10:06 am: Madagascar – Ghana
- 11:44 am: Tunisia v Zimbabwe
- 12:06 p.m.: South Africa v Uganda
- 12:28 p.m.: Kenya v Ghana
- 12:50 pm: Madagascar – Zambia
- 14.56pm: Uganda v Zimbabwe
- 15.18pm: Zambia v Ghana
- 15:40 pm: Madagascar – Kenya
- 16:02 pm: South Africa v Tunisia
Sunday, October 15
- 10:00 a.m.: 3rd Group A – 4th Group B
- 10:22 a.m.: 3rd Group B – 4th Group A
- 10:44 am: 1st Pool A – 2nd Pool B
- 11:06 am: 1st Pool B – 2nd Pool A
- 12:44 p.m.: Loser Group 3 A – Group 4 B – Loser Group 3 B – Group 4 A
- 13:08 p.m.: Winner 3rd Group A – 4th Group B – Winner 3rd Group B – 4th Group A
- 13:35 p.m.: Loser 1st Pool A – 2nd Pool B – Loser 1st Pool B – 2nd Pool A
- 14:12 pm: Winner 1st Pool A – 2nd Pool B – Winner 1st Pool B – 2nd Pool A
How to Watch African Women’s Rugby OQT Live
The African Women’s Regional Rugby 7s Associations Olympic Qualification Tournament will be streamed live on Facebook by Rugby Africa.
