Shujaa, the Kenya seven-a-side rugby team must navigate through a tough Pool C in Perth, Australia to continue on an upward trajectory in the World Rugby Sevens World Series which resumes on January 23, 2025 in Australia. 

They have been drawn against Fiji, New Zealand and Uruguay in what promises to be a hotly contested pool where Kenya and New Zealand play the first match of this leg paving way for the match between Fiji and Uruguay.

Fiji who won in Dubai and finished third in Cape Town have rediscovered their winning ways while New Zealand is likely to have a full-strength side after missing some of their key players in Cape Town.

Kevin Wambua and his charges gave a glimpse of their devastating form when they demolished Great Britain 32-17 in the seventh-place play-off in Cape Town. It is this form that could see them bare their claws against an efficient New Zealand side in the opening match before facing the free-running Fijians.

Challenger Series Replay

The third match against newly-promoted Uruguay shall be a reminder of last year’s Challenger Series where the two teams emerged first and second to qualify for the play off and eventually earned a return to the Series.

South Africa, the only other African team, are the top seeds in Perth. The Blitz Boks won their first home tournament in nine years by edging out France. They are fourth on the overall table and play against Argentina, Australia and the USA.

Spain who have matured in the Series finished second in Dubai and fourth in Cape Town. They have been drawn in Pool B with France, Great Britain and Ireland in a tricky pool where Ireland are keen to regain their winning ways after bravely battling in Cape Town despite illness in their camp.

After two legs, Fiji are top of the men’s table with 36 points while Spain are second followed by France and South Africa. On the opposite end of the table, Ireland find themselves in an unfamiliar 12th spot after two legs behind the USA, Uruguay, Kenya and Australia who are all in the red zone.

Women’s Category

In the women’s category, New Zealand, Australia, France, USA and Canada are expected to dominate the proceedings. Hosts Australia have their back against the wall after failing to ascend the podium in Cape Town where they finished fourth behind New Zealand, USA and France. 

New Zealand are in Pool A with Japan, Ireland and Brazil while USA head Pool B that comprises Canada, Great Britain, and Fiji. Hosts Australia will renew their rivalry with France in Pool C with China and Spain also in the mix.

It will be interesting to see how the teams adapt from the three-day opening format in Dubai followed by a two-day format in Cape Town where the top teams in each pool progressed directly to the semi-finals bypassing the quarter finals. 

The draw for Perth Sevens, January 23-25

Men

Pool A: South Africa, Argentina, Australia, USA.

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

Pool C: Fiji, New Zealand, Kenya, Uruguay.

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

Women

Pool A: New Zealand, Japan, Ireland, Brazil.

Pool B: USA, Canada, Great Britain, Fiji

Pool C: France, Australia, China, Spain.

Order of play: Canada v Great Britain, USA v Fiji, Japan v Ireland, New Zealand v Brazil, Australia v China, France v Spain, Canada v Fiji, USA v Great Britain, Japan v Brazil, New Zealand v Ireland, France v China, Australia v Spain, Great Britain v Fiji, USA v Canada, Ireland v Brazil, New Zealand v Japan, China v Spain, France v Australia.

Overall standings

Men: Fiji 36, Spain 32, France 30, South Africa 30, Argentina 28, New Zealand 24, Great Britain 12, Australia 12, Kenya 11, Uruguay 6, USA 4, Ireland 3.

Women: New Zealand 38, Australia 34, France 32, USA 30, Great Britain 22, Japan 18, Canada 18, Ireland 16, China 7, Brazil 6, Fiji 4, Spain 3.

2024/2025 World Rugby Sevens World Series venues and dates

Dubai: November 30- December 1, 2024.

Cape Town: December 7-8, 2024.

Perth: January 23-25, 2025.

Vancouver: February 21-23, 2025.

Hong Kong: March 28-30, 2025.

Singapore: April 5-6, 2025.Los Angeles: May 3-4, 2025.