Heartbreak for SA Women side as Kenya qualify

While the men’s side revelled in their World Championship glory, there was heartbreak for the SA Women’s side, losing their Playoff final in the last minute to Kenya and thus losing out on the right for automatic qualification for the newly formed Division two of the HSBC World SVNS Series next season.

The Kenyan Women’s side beat them 17-14 in the final, ensuring qualification for the Shujaa Women, but denying the South Africans their spot.

They will need to qualify for Division two via regional competitions next season, with China, Brazil, and Spain progressing because they won their pools - which brought automatic qualification.

The complicated qualification scenario then saw teams that ended second and third in the pools play off for two more places - where Spain booked their place by defeating Argentina and the winner of the Kenya-SA game would have qualified.

The Women Sevens team held a 14-10 lead with a minute left on the clock but a red card for Alicia Willemse for a dangerous tackle allowed the advantage Kenya needed for the win.

Earlier the Women’s side fought back to beat Argentina 17-14 in their final pool game, ensuring they finished second.

Kenya’s win ensures they are part of the newly formed Division two next season while their men’s team also qualified.

They booked their place by beating Canada 24-5 in the Playoff final.