Shujaa, the Kenya Sevens team face an uphill task in Dubai when they return to the World Rugby World Sevens Series after spending one season out.

A bumpy start to the preparations saw the players miss two weeks of training when their contracts hung in the balance. They started preparations after a sponsor came on board.

This week, coach Kevin Wambua and his assistant Louis Kisia named the squad. Seven players named in the team for the opening two legs in Dubai and Cape Town, South Africa already have a taste of what is expected in a top level competition.

Kevin Wekesa, Patrick Odongo, George Ooro, Samuel Asati, Nygel Amaitsa and Chrisant Ojwang were in the Shujaa team that played at the promotion relegation tournament in Madrid, Spain and also participated in the Olympics in Paris, France. Brian Mutua played in Spain. The rest of the players will be on the big stage for the first time.

Kenya has been drawn in a tough Pool A that has Olympic and Series champions France, Australia and Olympic bronze winners South Africa. Perhaps the only notable absentees are Vincent Onyala, Tony Omondi and Brian Tanga.

Shujaa will be returning to the big stage after one year out during which they played in the three-leg World Rugby Challenger Series before the crucial promotion-relegation battle in Madrid.

The Kenya team has Kevin Wekesa, Patrick Odongo, George Ouro (Capt), William Mwanji, Brian Mutua, Dennis Abukuse, Samuel Asati (Capt), Nygel Amaitsa, Chrisant Ojwang, Festus Shiasi, Benson Salem, Floyd Wabwire, and Brayan Ondego.

Experienced South Africa

They face an experienced South Africa side that has Christie Grobbelaar, Ryan Oosthuizen, Impi Visser (captain), Zain Davids (Captain), Ricardo Duarttee, Ronald Brown, Dewald Human, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Shilton Van Wyk, Quewin Nortje, Donavan Don, David Brits and Tristan Leyds.

Philip Snyman, the South Africa coach is building a team for the next cycle and will be without Selvyn Davids and Tiaan Pretorious for the opening leg. Rosko Specman and Justin Geduld are unavailable this season while Katlego Letebele has opted to honor a contract with Vodacom Bulls. Soyizwapi returns to the team in a new capacity as a forward. A South African A team will play in the invitational tournament.

Australia, Kenya’s other opponents in Pool A have three debutants Sid Harvey, Eden Ekanayake and Michael Icely. The team which will miss the services of Maurice Longbottom and Dietrich Roache will be coached by Liam Barry. 

The team has Henry Hutchinson, Ben Dowling, Henry Palmer, Henry Paterson, James McGregor, Matt Gonzalez, Ben Dalton, Nathan Lawson, James Turner and Hayden Sargeant.

Three debutants

In the meantime, New Zealand, the former champions also have three debutants in the squad that will be captained by Dylan Collier. The debutants are Oli Mathis, Sofai Maka and Joey Taumateine. 

Coach Tomasi Cama will be without Regan Ware, Amanaki Nicole, Kitiona Vai, Roderick Solo, Akuila Rokollisoa and Xavier Tito-Harris who are nursing injuries. The rest of the squad has Jayden Keelan, Andrew Knewstubb, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Sione Molia, Tone Ng Shiu, Lewis Osmond, Brady Rush, Joe Webber and Codemeru Vai.

Fiji also has two new faces in the team. They are Kavekini Tanivanuakula and George Bose. The rest of the squad is Sevuloni Mocenacagi, Jerry Matana, Joji Nasova, Suliano Volivolituevei, Ilikimi Torosi, Terio Tamani, Philipo Bukayaro, Ratu Filipe Sauturaga, Vuiviwa Naduvalo, and Iowane Teba.

 Teams

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

Men: Argentina, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, France, Fiji, South Africa, Great Britain, USA, Spain, Uruguay and Kenya.

Dubai Sevens draw

Women

Pool A: Australia, Ireland, Fiji, China.

Pool B: France, USA, Great Britain, Spain.

Pool C: New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Brazil

Order of play

Canada v Brazil, New Zealand v Japan, USA v Spain, France v Great Britain, Ireland v China, Australia v Fiji, Japan v Brazil, New Zealand v Canada, Great Britain v Spain, France v USA, Fiji v China, Australia v Ireland, 

Men

Pool A: France, South Africa, Australia, Kenya.

Pool B: Argentina, Ireland, Great Britain, Uruguay.

Pool C: Fiji, New Zealand, USA, Spain.

Order of play

New Zealand v USA, Fiji v Spain, Ireland v Great Britain, Argentina v Uruguay, South Africa v Australia, France v Kenya, New Zealand v Spain, Fiji v USA, Ireland v Uruguay, Argentina v Great Britain, South Africa v Kenya, France v Australia, USA v Spain, Fiji v New Zealand, Great Britain v Uruguay, Argentina v Ireland, Australia v Kenya, France v South Africa.

2024/2025 World Rugby Sevens World Series venues and dates

Dubai: November 30- December 1, 2024.

Cape Town: December 7-8, 2024.

Perth: January 24-26, 2025.

Vancouver: February 21-23, 2025.

Hong Kong: March 28-30, 2025.

Singapore: April 5-6, 2025.

Los Angeles: May 3-4, 2025.