Kenya’s national sevens team, Shujaa, faced a challenging weekend at the fourth leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Vancouver. Despite their best efforts, Shujaa struggled throughout the tournament, ultimately finishing 12th in the standings. However, they managed to maintain their 9th position overall in the HSBC Series.
Shujaa’s campaign in Vancouver began with a series of tough matches. They suffered defeats in the pool stages, losing 24-0 to Argentina, 33-7 to France, and 28-10 to Great Britain. In the ninth-place semifinals, Shujaa faced Uruguay and despite a strong start, they fell 19-14, marking their fourth consecutive defeat. This loss relegated them to the 11th-place playoff, where they faced England.
The Vancouver Sevens tournament concluded with Argentina emerging as the champions. Argentina secured their fourth successive title in Vancouver by defeating South Africa 19-12 in the final. The Pumas showcased their dominance with two first-half tries and a third try immediately after the break, establishing a 19-0 lead. South Africa mounted a late comeback with tries from Quewin Nortje and Siviwe Soyizwapi, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Argentina’s lead.
Looking ahead, the next leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series will take place in Hong Kong from March 28 to 30, 2025. The Hong Kong Sevens is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and world-class rugby action. Fans can expect three days of thrilling matches and entertainment as teams from around the globe compete for glory.
As Shujaa prepares for the upcoming Hong Kong Sevens, they will be looking to regroup and improve their performance. The team remains determined to climb the rankings and make a strong showing in the remaining tournaments of the HSBC Series.
