Kenya’s journey for a return to the top World Rugby Sevens World Series started on a winning note at the start of the three-tournament World Rugby Challenger Series in Dubai on January 12.

The team popularly known as Shujaa was barely tested on the opening day scoring 12 tries and conceding only one by beating Mexico and neighbors Uganda 41-0 and 29-7. The real test was due to start on the second day when they faced Germany to complete their Pool B fixtures before entering the knock-out stage.

On the opening day, Kevin Wekesa, Nygel Amaitsa and Patrick Odongo scored three tries each. However, the technical bench which has head coach Kevin Wambua, Louis Kisia and Andrew Amonde would be scratching their heads to find a solution for points from the kicking tee. Only five of the 12 tries were converted by four different kickers – Brian Tanga, Samuel Asati, Omondi and Amaitsa.

The women’s team, Kenya Lionesses won and lost one match. They upset China 17-12 in their opening match but faltered against Czechia in the second despite leading 10-0 at the break. Discipline could have cost them this match. Stella Wafula was sent to the sin bin early in the first half and Christabel Lindo red-carded in the second half. Kenya Lionesses faced Mexico in their final pool match before the knock-out stage.

From Dubai, the Challenger Series which was started in 2020 heads to Montivideo, Uruguay on March 8-10 before the women’s team plays in Krakow, Poland and the men’s team in Munich, Germany on May 18-19. The top four teams in each category will then converge in Madrid, Spain for a play-off competition for promotion and relegation to the top tier World Rugby SVNS Series.

Kenya 41 Mexico 0
Kevin Wekesa and Patrick Odongo scored two tries each while John Okoth, Nygel Amaitsa and Vincent Onyala added one each as Kenya blanked Mexico 41-0. Anthony Omondi added two conversions.
Wekesa started the rout with a try in the first minute.

Amaitsa missed the conversion for a 5-0 lead. In the third minute, Wekesa completed his brace with a power try. Amaitsa was wide but Kenya led 10-0. He made up for the missed conversions with a try in the fifth minute. This time, Omondi slotted the conversion to stretch the lead 17-0.

Odongo opened his brace in the eighth minute by using a numerical advantage after Fharid Samano was yellow carded in the seventh minute. Omondi failed to convert but Kenya led 22-0. There was no let up as Odongo completed the brace.

Omondi converted to surge ahead 27-0. Onyala led from the front scoring a captain’s try in the 11th minute. Amaitsa was wide but converted Okoth’s try in the 15th minute.

Kenya 29. Uganda 7
Kenya won the second match, an East African derby beating neighbors Uganda 29-7 to qualify for the quarter final. Amaitsa scored two tries with Wekesa, Shiasi and Odongo scoring a try each. Omondi kicked over two conversions.

Adrial Kasito replied for Uganda and Aaron Oforywoth converted. Amaitsa opened Kenya’s account in the second minute. Odongo missed the conversion as Kenya led 5-0. It took only one minute for Uganda to reply with a try by Kasito. Oforywoth converted for the lead to change hands 7-5 in Uganda;’s favor.

The lead was canceled in the seventh minute with a try by Odongo which Omondi converted for a 12-7 lead. The second half belonged to Kenya with Amaitsa completing his brace in the ninth minute. Odongo was sure as Kenya led 19-7.

Shiasi stretched the lead with a try in the 13th minute. Samuel Asati missed the conversion. When Oforywoth was yellow-carded in the 14th minute, Kenya used the numerical advantage to add the fifth try. Brian Tanga missed the conversion.

Kenya Lionesses 17 China 12
Kenya Lionesses edged out China, one of the most successful teams in the Challenger Series 17-12 in their first match at the opening tournament in Dubai on January 12.

Before this match. China had won 14 of their 18 games. In this match, Chen Keyi opened the scores for China in the fourth minute but missed the conversion for an early 5-0 lead. Grace Okulu replied for Kenya in the eighth minute and converted for a 7-5 lead at half time. Stella Wafula added the second try for Kenya in the ninth minute. Okullu missed the conversion to stretch the lead 12-5.

Liu Xiaoqian replied for China in the 10th minute and Gu Yaoyao converted to level the scores 12-12. One minute later, Judith Akumu scored the winning try for Kenya. Okullu missed the conversion.

Kenya Lionesses 10 Czechia 12
In the second match, a second half rally by Czechia saw them narrowly beat Kenya 12-10. This was despite playing with only six in the closing stages after Tess Braunerova was yellow-carded.

Kenya started on a positive note when Sharon Auma scored the first try in the first minute. Okulu missed the conversion. After the try, Kenya were reduced to six after Stella Wafula was sent to the naughty chair. Christabel Lindo scored Kenya’s second try in the seventh minute for a 10-0 lead at the break.

On resumption, Czechia started the comeback with a try by Kristyna Plevova in the eighth minute. Julie Dolezilova converted to narrow the gap 7-10 in Kenya’s favor. Kenya were reduced to six when Lindo was red-carded in the 10th minute, Anezka-Marta Sladkova crossed the line for the winning try. Tess Braunerova missed the conversion.

World Rugby Sevens Challenger
Results, day one.
Women
Pool A: Belgium, Thailand, Uganda, Papua New Guinea.
Thailand 15 Papua New Guinea 0, Belgium 14 Uganda 7, Thailand 19 Uganda 7, Belgium 31 PNG 10,
Pool B: Czechia, Kenya, China, Mexico.
Czech 34 Mexico 0, China 12 Kenya 17, Czech 12 Kenya 10, China 64 Mexico 0,
Pool C: Argentina, Poland, Hong Kong China, Paraguay.
Hong Kong China 17 Paraguay 0, Poland 12 Argentina 19, Hong Kong China 0 Argentina 19, Poland 45 Paraguay 5
Day two fixtures
Women:
Pool C: Paraguay v Argentina, Poland v Hong Kong China
Pool B: Mexico v Kenya, China v Czech,
Pool A: PNG v Uganda, Belgium v Thailand
Day one results
Men
Pool A: Hong Kong China, Uruguay, Georgia, Papua New Guinea
Hong Kong China 21 PNG 7, Uruguay 10 Georgia 12, Hong Kong China 19 Georgia 7, Paraguay 41 PNG 14,
Pool B: Tonga, Chile, Japan, Portugal
Tonga 26 Chile 19, Japan 22 Portugal 17, Tonga 26 Portugal 21, Japan 14 Chile 24
Pool C: Kenya, Germany, Uganda, Mexico.
Germany 19 Uganda 5, Kenya 41 Mexico 0. Germany 43 Mexico 0, Kenya 29 Uganda 7,
Day two fixtures
Pool C: Uganda v Mexico, Kenya v Germany,
Pool B: Chile v Portugal, Japan v Tonga,
Pool A: PNG v Georgia, Uruguay v Hong Kong China