Accra: Ghana is set to make history as the first West African nation to host the Rugby Africa Women's Sevens competition, slated for November 9-10, 2024, at the University of Ghana's Rugby Stadium. The tournament will include 11 participating countries alongside host Ghana, featuring defending champions South Africa, as well as Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tunisia, Kenya, Madagascar, Senegal, Zambia, Mauritius, Burkina Faso, and Cote d'Ivoire. According to Ghana News Agency, Rugby Africa, the governing body for rugby on the continent, is organizing the event, which will also serve as a qualifying round for the 2025 Challenger Series. A statement from the Youth and Sports Ministry's Public Relations Unit emphasized the significance of this event, highlighting the growth of rugby in Ghana and the broader West African region, particularly in the promotion of women's sports. The statement noted the support from the Government of Ghana under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who has been a proponent for enhancing sport s infrastructure and advancing gender equality in athletics. The Rugby Africa Women's Sevens is recognized as a leading continental competition, played in the dynamic sevens format. This format features seven players per team, with matches divided into two halves of seven minutes each. The 2024 tournament will not only decide the African champions but will also provide the top three teams with an opportunity to qualify for the 2025 Challenger Series, a global rugby sevens qualifier. In an effort to engage the local community and international visitors, admission to the tournament will be free, allowing spectators to experience high-level rugby action firsthand.