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Shujaa edge Belgium at HSBC SVNS2 Montevideo
22nd March, 2026 10:14 AM
Despite conditions that did not favour running rugby, the heavens opened shortly before kick-off on Sunday, March 22, 2026, with the 12 teams competing to qualify for the HSBC SVNS World Championship Series putting on a stunning series of performances for hardy fans at Estadio Charrua.
In the men’s competition, Kenya’s Shujaa, after edging Belgium 20-0, with two wins from their three matches, is chasing hard. Kenya were just too good for a dogged Belgium, scoring four tries to win 20-0 and finish day one in Montevideo on two wins to maintain the pressure on the USA.
Also, Chrisant Ojwang’s raw pace set the scoreboard moving after just 14 seconds for Kenya as they raced out of the blocks in their second outing of the day against Canada. Floyd Wabwire and Kevin Wekesa Nyongesa also touched down in the first half, as the African side recovered from their opening match defeat against the USA to win 19-5.
On the other hand, Germany and the USA both went unbeaten on day one in Montevideo to open up a tournament league lead over their rivals and put themselves in the box seat for a shot at qualifying for the end-of-season tournaments in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux.
Perfect days for USA and Germany
Germany and USA both went unbeaten on day one in Montevideo to open up a tournament league lead over their rivals and put themselves in the box seat for a shot at the HSBC SVNS World Championship Series.
Nairobi winners Germany came back from 14-0 down against Canada to win 21-14, courtesy of Jakob Dipper’s second-half hat-trick.
Dipper’s fourth try of the day and a brace for Niklas Koch sent Germany on the way to their second win of the opening day. They ran in five of them in total en route to a 31-5 victory over Belgium.
In the women’s competition, the top-three sides Argentina, South Africa, and Spain appear well placed to pick up crucial league points in their quest to finish in the top four and qualify for the end-of-season three-tournament HSBC World Championship Series.
All three sides won twice in the difficult and changeable conditions in Montevideo on a day in which all sides proved fallible, and three matches went to golden point extra time.
