Shujaa overpower France to seal seventh place finish in Hong Kong 7s
By Joel Masibo, April 19, 2026Kenya’s national men’s rugby sevens team, Shujaa, concluded the opening round of the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Hong Kong on a positive note after overpowering France 21–7 to claim seventh position.
The victory in the seventh-place playoff, played on Sunday, April 19, 2026, marked a strong finish to the tournament and provided encouragement as the team continues its push for promotion back to the top-tier SVNS 1 next season.
Competition outlook
Throughout the competition at Kai Tak Sports Park, Shujaa showed resilience despite an inconsistent start. They managed to recover from early pool defeats against Australia and New Zealand by securing a crucial 17–10 win over the USA, which earned them qualification to the main Cup quarterfinals.
However, their quarterfinal clash against South Africa proved costly. Kenya had built a 22–14 advantage late in the match, but conceded in the closing moments to lose 26–22, dropping them into the seventh-place playoff bracket.
In the placement match against France, Kenya struck first through Nygel Amaitsa, who finished off a well-coordinated attack before successfully adding the conversion. France responded just before halftime, capitalising on a defensive lapse to level the score at 7–7 heading into the break.
Kenya regained control in the second half when swift play from the scrum set up another attacking move that allowed Festus Shiasi to cross the line, with Amaitsa converting to extend the lead.
Sealing 7th place
Shujaa later sealed the result with another try following disciplined defensive work and a turnover that allowed Samuel Asati to weave through the French defence, pushing the score to 21–7.
Although additional scoring opportunities went begging, Kenya comfortably held onto their advantage to wrap up the tournament on a winning note.
Overall, Shujaa recorded two victories in the competition, including their triumph over the USA, while suffering defeats to Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
With the Hong Kong leg complete, the team now shifts focus to the upcoming rounds scheduled in Valladolid from May 29–31 and Bordeaux from June 5–7. The top eight teams across the series will secure qualification to the HSBC SVNS 1 division, leaving Kenya firmly in contention as they continue their campaign.