The Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium in Krakow will host 16 rugby teams worldwide, on April 11 and 12, 2025. In the final tournament of the HSBC Sevens Challenger series in the Olympic seven-a-side rugby format, the Polish women's national team will compete for promotion to the world elite!
Two intense days await us at the foot of Wawel Castle. On Friday, 24 matches will be played, and on Saturday, 16. Eight women's and eight men's teams will compete on the field, including three participants from the recent 2024 Paris Olympics - Japan and Samoa (men) and South Africa (women). The Polish women's team, which has excellent memories of playing in Krakow, will also compete for one of four tickets to Los Angeles for the playoff against elite teams and a chance to join the elite (HSBC SVNS series).
"Playing in Krakow is a huge motivation for us because it's the only opportunity for our families, friends, and Polish fans to watch the women's rugby 7s national team during an international tournament in Poland. This place is also lucky for us. Here we won the European Championship, then silver at the European Games, and last year a place in the final in Madrid," said Oliwia Strugińska, Polish national team player.
The tournament in Krakow is not just about sports excitement. A fan zone will be created on the Reymonta Street side with numerous attractions, a catering area, a sports zone, opportunities to try various rugby elements, and a chance to understand the sport better. Moreover, Saturday's finals and cup ceremony will be crowned with a concert by a well-known and respected Polish artist who will perform on the stage in front of the stadium. The band's name remains a secret, with organizers revealing the evening's star in the second week of March.
Weekend passes for the entire tournament or tickets for individual competition days are going on sale. The group phase is scheduled for Friday, with all teams playing three matches. Saturday will feature the semifinals and ranking qualification matches. Late afternoon will bring excitement related to the final decisions.
The fan zone will be open daily from the beginning to the end of the tournament. Multiple-use tickets will be valid for the stadium, allowing visits to the fan zone during the tournament. The zone will also be open to people without tickets until the final matches. Then, it will be closed, and admission will require a tournament ticket.
World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger is the only rugby 7s tournament organized by the world federation in Europe in 2025. It's an excellent opportunity to discover a new sport and feel the family atmosphere in the stands.
Preliminary tournament schedule:
Friday, April 11
9:00 Start of competition - First round of group matches for women and men
12:30 Start of second round of group matches for women and men
16:00 Start of third round of group matches for women and men
Saturday, April 12
11:00 Start of semifinal and ranking matches
15:00 Start of placement matches and finals
19:30 Concert.