Zambia Turns Heads at African 7s Tournament

Zambia’s impressive 6th-place finish at the Africa Men’s 7s Rugby Tournament in Mauritius, an improvement from its 9th-place finish in 2024, marks a significant step forward for the nation’s rugby. 

Despite narrowly missing out on 5th place after a tightly contested match against Uganda, Zambia outperformed six other teams, including well-established sides like Nigeria and Tunisia, underscoring its steady rise as a rugby-playing nation.

The Zambia Rugby Sevens team kicked off the 2025 tournament on a strong note with victories over Nigeria and Burkina Faso. On day one, they secured a 21-12 win over Burkina Faso on Saturday morning in Port Louis before edging past Nigeria 14-7 in their third match. Sandwiched between those games was a tough 33-14 loss to South Africa, but the team quickly regrouped and bounced back with resilience. 

Key players, including Israel Kalumba, Arun Watkins, and David Chimbukulu, have been crucial in Zambia’s campaign, delivering standout performances throughout the tournament.

Zambia’s strong tournament highlights the Rugby Union’s ongoing efforts to grow and professionalise the sport nationwide. With continued investment and support, Zambia is well-positioned to break into the top five and challenge continental heavyweights like Kenya and South Africa.

Zambia’s showing in Mauritius is set to rally supporters and inspire future talent, reinforcing rugby’s rising profile in the country’s sports landscape.

Final Standings:
1st: South Africa
2nd: Madagascar
3rd: Zimbabwe
4th: Kenya
5th: Uganda
6th: Zambia
7th: Nigeria
8th: Ghana
9th: Burkina Faso
10th: Tunisia
11th: Mauritius
12th: Ivory Coast