GABORONE, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of different African rugby unions as well as officials from the governing body Rugby Africa (RA) have arrived here to kick-start activities of a week to promote women's rugby.

First on the agenda is a women's rugby conference held under the theme of "a place for women in rugby."

The conference started on Tuesday morning with representatives from 13 African countries as well as those from World Rugby and Rugby Africa including its president Abdelaziz Bougja and the general manager for women's rugby at World Rugby, Katie Seidler.

Guest speakers at the conference include chief women's football officer at FIFA Sarai Bareman and Ada Milby, women rugby manager at Asia Rugby.

They are expected to share their experience with the delegates as women involved in sports.

When welcoming guests at the conference, Rugby Africa vice president Dave Gilbert said May is an important month for women's rugby and they have taken a decision as Rugby Africa to dedicate the month to women.

Gilbert, who is also the former president for Botswana Rugby Union (BRU) said they are excited for Botswana to be hosting two important events for women's rugby immediately after Botswana hosted the International Working Group (IWG) in Women and Sports conference.

The four-day conference came to end in Gaborone this past Sunday.

The conference will precede the Rugby Africa Women Sevens tournament that will take place in Gaborone from May 26-27.

Nine countries including Kenya, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco, Mauritius, Madagascar, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Uganda will join Botswana for the two-day tournament at the national stadium to crown the African women champions for 2018.

The teams will also use the tournament to prepare for the Olympic qualifiers to be played next year.

Pool A of the tournament is comprised of Kenya, Madagascar and Senegal while pool B has Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Botswana, Zambia and Mauritius are in pool C. Enditem