Zambia Finish 6th at Africa Men’s 7s, Signal Rising Force in African Rugby

Zambia’s national men’s rugby sevens team has concluded their 2025 Rugby Africa Sevens campaign with a notable 6th place finish, marking their best result in recent years and underlining the country’s upward trajectory in the continental rugby scene.

Held at the Labourdonnais Sports Club in Mauritius, the prestigious tournament brought together 12 top African nations, including traditional heavyweights South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda. Zambia, who finished 9th in the 2024 edition, climbed three places this year, a significant milestone in their ongoing pursuit of rugby excellence.

Zambia opened the tournament in style on Day One, winning two of their three group matches, including a spirited 21-12 win over Burkina Faso and a hard-fought 14-7 triumph over Nigeria. Despite falling to a strong South African side featuring eight uncapped players from their Sevens ‘A’ development squad, Zambia’s performance was lauded for its pace, discipline, and flair.

The Zambian side put in another commendable showing but narrowly missed out on 5th place after a closely contested match against Uganda. Their eventual 6th place finish saw them outperform six other nations, including Nigeria, Tunisia, and hosts Mauritius.

Final Standings – Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens 2025:

1. South Africa
2. Madagascar
3. Zimbabwe
4. Kenya
5. Uganda
6. Zambia
7. Nigeria
8. Ghana
9. Burkina Faso
10. Tunisia
11. Mauritius
12. Ivory Coast

The Zambia Rugby Union has hailed the result as a breakthrough for the sport in the country, crediting it to years of strategic investment in grassroots development, coaching, and player pathways.

“This performance is a testament to the progress we are making,” read a statement from the Union. “The team’s determination, tactical maturity, and fighting spirit have made the nation proud and signaled Zambia’s growing status in African rugby.”