Kenya has landed a tough Group B draw for the Olympic Games that kick off in Paris, France next month. The draw that was done after the completion of the World Rugby Sevens Repechage qualifier in Monaco has Shujaa playing against World Rugby Series champions Argentina, Australia and Samoa.

South Africa, the other continent’s representatives who booked their place by winning the Repechage qualifier in Monaco are placed in Group A that has New Zealand, Ireland and Japan. The hosts France complete the draw in Group C where they play against two time Olympic champions Fiji, USA and Uruguay.

The women’s draw has New Zealand, Fiji, Canada and China in Group A. Australia, the championship side, have been drawn in Group B that has Ireland, Great Britain and South Africa with Group C comprising France, USA, Japan and Brazil. 

South Africa win

In Monaco, four African teams survived a tough two-day qualification process to reach the quarter final stage of the World Rugby Sevens Repechage qualifier. On Sunday, only one, South Africa clinched that one available spot for the Olympics.

On the final day, China who were favorites after penning a core status to their name blanked Uruguay 31-0 scoring four unanswered tries through Dou Xinrong (2), Wang Xiao, Hu Yu and Sun Yue. 

The first African team, Uganda’s Lady Cranes dropped off the race by losing 0-22 to a solid Czechia side. Their try scorers were Julie Dolezilova, Anezeka-Marta Sladkova (2) and Kristyna Riegertova. 

Kenya atoned for the Lady Crane’s loss by edging out Argentina 15-12 to reach the semi-final. Grace Okulu, Janet Okelo and Stella Wafula scored a try each for Kenya Lionesses with their opponents replying through a try each by Mayra Genghini and Josefina Padellaro. Sofia Gonzalez kicked over one conversion.

Poland qualified for the semi-final by blanking Hong Kong China 36-0. Ilona Zaisliuc and Natalia Pamieta scored two tries each while Oliwia Krysiak and Martyana Wardaszka added one each. Julia Druzgala knocked over three conversions.

Big brother

In the men’s quarter finals, the second African side, Uganda Cranes were knocked out by South Africa – the big brother – 26-0. Tristan Leyds, one of the revelations in Monaco scored two tries. Shaun Willliams and Zain Davids scored one try each. Leyds added two conversions and Williams one.

Great Britain scored five unanswered tries against Tonga to win 33-0. In this match, Charlton Kerr scored two tries with Kaleem Barreto, Morgan Williams and Jamie Barden adding one each. William Homer converted four tries.

Spain dispatched Hong Kong China 26-5 while Canada narrowly beat Chile 24-19.

China dominance

In the semi-finals, China continued their dominance by silencing Poland 40-7 while Kenya Lionesses edged out Czechia 12-10 to reach the final. Okelo and Sinaida Nyachio scored one try each and Okulu converted Okelo’s try. Czechia replied through Julie Durychova and Kristyna Riegertova. 

South Africa kept the continental flag flying by joining Kenya Lionesses in the final by overcoming Canada 28-0 in the men’s semi-final. Leyds and Rosco Specman scored one try each and Selvyn Davids two. Williams and Leyds knocked over two conversions each. Great Britain edged out Spain 17-12 in the other semi-final.

The play off for the women’s match saw Poland beat Czechia 33-14 as Spain bagged bronze by beating Canada 31-14. 

Of the two African teams in the final, Kenya Lionesses, the only team to defeat China this season lost 7-24 to win a silver while South Africa, beaten by Kenya’s Shujaa at the Africa qualifiers scored two converted tries to beat Great Britain to join their women’s team which won the Africa title.

Olympics draw

Men

Group A: New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, Japan; Group B: Argentina, Australia, Samoa, Kenya; Group C: Fiji, France, USA, Uruguay.

Women

Group A: New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, China; Group B: Australia, Ireland, Great Britain. South Africa; Group C: France, USA, Japan, Brazil

World Rugby Repechage Sevens

Quarter finals

Women: China 31 Paraguay 0, Czechia 22 Uganda 0, Kenya 15 Argentina 12, Poland 36 Hong Kong China 0; Semi-final: China 40 Poland 7, Czechia 10 Kenya 12; Play-off: Poland 33 Czechia 14; Final: China 24 Kenya 7.  

Men: South Africa 26 Uganda 0, Great Britain 33 Tonga 0, Spain 26 Hong Kong China 5, Canada 24 Chile 19; Semi-final: South Africa 28 Canada 0; Great Britain 17 Spain 12; Play-off: Canada 14 Spain 31; Final: South Africa 14 Great Britain 5.

Results

Pool D: Argentina, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Samoa

Argentina 26 Samoa 5, Kenya 31 Samoa 5, Argentina 17 Kenya 19.

Pool E: Hong Kong China, Jamaica, Paraguay, Uganda

Hong Kong China 33 Paraguay 15, Uganda 29 Jamaica 0, Hong Kong China 22 Jamaica 12, Uganda 24 Paraguay 0, China 26 Poland 0, Paraguay 36 Jamaica 21, Uganda 17 Hong Kong China 14.

Pool F: China, Czechia, Mexico, Poland

Poland 24 Czechia 7, China 55 Mexico 0, Poland 60 Mexico 0, China 41 Czechia 5, Czechia 45 Mexico 0, China 26 Poland 0.

Men

Pool A: Chile, Mexico, South Africa, Tonga

Chile 14 Tonga 5, South Africa 44 Mexico 0, Chile 35 Mexico 10, South Africa 31 Tonga 7, Tonga 26 Mexico 5, South Africa 26 Chile 7. 

Pool B: Canada, China, Great Britain, Uganda

Canada 31 Uganda 12, Great Britain 35 China 19, Canada 33 China 14, Great Britain 29 Uganda 5, Uganda 33 China 15, Great Britain 17 Canada 14.

Pool C: Brazil, Hong Kong China, Papua New Guinea, Spain.

Spain 38 Brazil 0, Hong Kong China 36 Brazil 0, Spain 34 Hong Kong China 14. 

Qualified

Men: Argentina, Australia, Fiji, France, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, Samoa, South Africa, USA, Uruguay.. 

Women: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Fiji, France, Great Britain , Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, USA.