Attention now switches to Madrid, Spain for the World Rugby Sevens Series Grand Finale where four core teams for next season’s circuit shall be decided with eight teams vying for the spots.

The composition of the tournament was decided when USA, Canada, Spain and Samoa finished in the bottom four of the men’s World Series tournament in Singapore. Last weekend, Uruguay, Kenya, Chile and Germany topped the three-leg World Rugby Challenger Series to qualify.

In the women’s category, overall World Rugby Challenger Series winners China together with Argentina, Belgium and Poland shall join Japan, Spain, South Africa and Brazil who finished bottom of the Series won by New Zealand’s Black Ferns. 

The last two tournaments in the Challenger Series lived up to the top billing. In Krakow, Poland where China completed a hattrick by beating Poland 36-0 in the final, the last two places were decided on the final day of competition. 

Outside chance

Uganda had an outside chance of qualifying but their chances rested on other results notably that of neighbors Kenya. The She Cranes needed to reach the final four and hoped that Kenya stumbled. 

The two teams qualified for the knock-out by virtue of finishing as the best placed third and fourth teams after the completion of the pool matches. Kenya edged ahead on the second day with an upset 22-5 win over second seeds Argentina. 

Because Uganda fell by the wayside after losing 14-38 to China in the quarter finals, Kenya had a chance if they beat hosts Poland in the semi final. Poland won 21-15 with the difference being that the hosts slotted their conversions. But, the side coached by Dennis Mwanja defied all odds and shall have a crack at the Olympic qualifiers in Monaco in June.

Over in Munich, the men’s competition was equally competitive. Germany, the hosts and Chile needed to reach the final four to have any realistic chances of traveling to Madrid, Spain to stake their claim for a core status. 

Home ground advantage

Germany used the home ground advantage to edge out Kenya 19-17 in the quarter final despite being reduced to six players after Ben Ellermann was red-carded. The Kenyans bounced back by beating neighbors Uganda – who rested key players – 48-0 to qualify for the play-off in Madrid by finishing second in the log. 

Munich produced an atmosphere that has been missing in the World Rugby Series when Kenyan fans cheered and danced on the terraces as Shujaa charged on. They are likely to travel to Spain in large numbers to support the team as they focus on returning to the core status. 

In Madrid, Kenya has been placed in Pool B with Samoa, Chile and hosts Spain. 

Draw for the play off in Madrid, Spain

Women

Pool A: Japan. Spain, China, Poland.

Pool B: Brazil, South Africa, Argentina, Belgium.

Men

Pool A: USA, Canada, Paraguay, Germany.

Pool B: Spain, Samoa, Kenya, Chile.

Kenya Lionesses: Sheila Chajira (captain), Judith Okumu, Christabel Lindo, Stella Wafula, Naomi Amuguni, Terry Ayesa, Sharon Auma, Sinaida Nyachio, Phoebe Akinyi, Maureen Muritu, Freshia Oduor, Edith Nariaka.

Shujaa squad: Vincent Onyala, Tony Omondi, Kevin Wekesa, John Okoth, Brian Tanga, George Ooro, Patrick Odongo, Samuel Asati, Herman Humwa, Nygel Amaitsa, Lamech Ambetsa, Chrisant Ojwang.

Final standings

Men: Uruguay 56 (218), Kenya 48 (176), Chile 46 (95), Germany 44 (170), Hong Kong China 42 (237), Uganda 28 (19), Tonga 24 (-76), Japan 18 (-30), Georgia 18 (-127), Portugal l3 (-56), Papua New Guinea 6 (-147), Mexico 3 (-471).

Women

China 60 (414), Argentina 46 (186), Belgium 44 (209), Poland 40 (150), Kenya 38 (17), Uganda 36 (-75), Thailand 22 (39), Czechia 19 (-7), Hong Kong China 13 (-162), Paraguay 12 (202), Papua New Guinea 8 (-108), Mexico 4 (-461).

Results Krakow, Poland  

Cup quarters: Argentina 5 Kenya 22, Poland 24 Czechia 5, China 38 Uganda 14, Paraguay 0 Belgium 38; Semi-final: Kenya 15 Poland 21, China 21 Belgium 12; Third place play-off: Kenya 7 Belgium 26; Final: Poland 0 China 36.

Fifth place play-off: Argentina 15 Czechia 12.

Seventh place play-off: Paraguay 5 Uganda 35.

Ninth place semi-final: Papua New Guinea 33 Hong Kong China 7, Thailand 31 Mexico 0; Final: Papua New Guinea 15 Thailand 19.

11th place play-off: Hong Kong China 10 Mexico 7.     

Pool A: China, Czechia, Hong Kong China, Thailand

China 24 Czechia 12, Thailand 33 Hong Kong China 12, Thailand 10 Czechia 26,  China 34 Hong Kong China 0, Hong Kong China 0 Czechia 36, China 34 Thailand 5. 

Pool B: Argentina, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Uganda

Uganda 14 Paraguay 17, Argentina 25 Papua New Guinea 5, Uganda 27 Papua New Guinea 26, Argentina 29 Paraguay 7, Paraguay 31 Papua New Guinea 10, Argentina 31 Uganda 20.

Pool C: Belgium, Kenya, Mexico, Poland.

Poland 19 Kenya 21, Belgium 38 Mexico 0, Poland 55 Mexico 0, Belgium 22 Kenya 0, Kenya 29 Mexico 7, Belgium 19 Poland 24.  

Results in Munich, Germany

Cup quarters: Kenya 17 Germany 19, Hong Kong China 42 Tonga 14, Uruguay 24 Georgia 7, Uganda 14 Chile 24; Semi-final: Hong Kong China 14 Germany 21, Uruguay 24 Chile 0; Third place play-off: Hong Kong China 12 Chile 0; Final: Germany 19 Uruguay 21. 

Fifth place play-off: Kenya 48 Uganda 0.

Seventh place play-off: Georgia 28 Tonga 26.

Ninth place semi-final: Japan 33 Papua New Guinea 26, Portugal 35 Mexico 14; Final: Japan 17 Portugal 35.

11th place play-off: Papua New Guinea 27 Mexico 22.

Pool results

Pool A: Georgia, Germany, Papua New Guinea, Uruguay

Germany 28 Georgia 10, Uruguay 47 Papua New Guinea 12, Germany 47 Papua New Guinea 5, Uruguay 40 Georgia 12, Georgia 27 Papua New Guinea 17, Uruguay 24 Germany 21.

Pool B: Hong Kong China, Mexico,Tonga,  Uganda

Uganda 26 Tonga 12, Hong Kong China 54 Mexico 7, Uganda 33 Mexico 12, Hong Kong China 45 Tonga 5, Tonga 35 Mexico 14, Hong Kong China 35 Uganda 12.  

Pool C: Chile, Japan, Kenya, Portugal.

Chile 39 Portugal 5, Kenya 28 Japan 12, Chile 26 Japan 12, Kenya 33 Portugal 5, Portugal 27 Japan 7, Kenya 17 Chile 12.