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Shujaa to face France in Valladolid 7s seventh-place playoff
31st May, 2026 10:06 AM
Kenya’s national men’s rugby sevens side, Shujaa, will take on France in the seventh-place playoff at the ongoing HSBC SVNS World Championship in Valladolid, Spain, after a difficult campaign in Europe.
The Kenyan team endured a difficult start to the tournament, suffering defeats in their opening Pool A matches. They first fell 15-10 to Australia before being beaten 14-0 by South Africa.
However, Shujaa revived their campaign with a hard-fought 12-7 victory over Great Britain in their final group-stage encounter on Saturday, May 30, 2026, a result that secured them a place in the quarter-finals.
Their journey in the knockout stage was cut short after Australia claimed a convincing 21-0 win, sending Kenya out of contention for the top positions.
Following that setback, Shujaa will now battle France in the seventh-place playoff scheduled for Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 2:00 pm East Africa Time.
Squad outlook
Meanwhile, the Kenya Rugby Union initially unveiled a formidable 13-player Kenya Shujaa squad for the ongoing HSBC SVNS 2 tournaments in Valladolid, Spain, and Bordeaux, France, as the national side continues its quest to regain a place in the World Rugby Sevens Series.
Head coach Kevin Wambua largely maintained faith in the squad that featured at the Hong Kong Sevens, making just two adjustments to the travelling team. The coaching staff’s decision reflects their belief in the consistency and quality displayed by the core group throughout the campaign.
The squad also included the likes of Kevin Wekesa, Dennis Abukuse, John Okoth, and Vincent Onyala, all of whom were expected to play important roles in Kenya’s promotion chase. Consistent performers Nygel Amaitsa, Patrick Odongo, and Festus Shafari have also retained their places in the squad.
Young talent David Nyangige continues to earn trust from the technical bench and travelled together with experienced campaigner Brian Tanga, offering the team a blend of youth and experience.
Meanwhile, Chrisant Ojwang returned to the lineup after missing the Hong Kong tournament, while Victor Odhiambo, popularly referred to as “Mola,” has made his eagerly anticipated debut with the national sevens side during his first tour with Shujaa.
