Written off by keyboard coaches and journalists and amidst a murky Kenya Rugby Union board wranngles, the Kenya Sevens team lived up to their nick name Shujaa by silencing their critics by reaching their first World Rugby Sevens World Series barely one year after returning as a core team.

By reaching the final four, Shujaa cemented a special love for Singapore, the venue that yielded their first ever Series win in 2016. In 2016, Collins Injera bravely pointed to the sticks after Kenya minted a penalty against Argentina in the semi final. It was not an easy kick but a defiant Injera was confident.

As the drop kick from near the left touchnine sailed over, Shujaa players jubilated, Argentina were dejected! Nearly nine years later, a near same script was repeated when Nygel Amaitsa landed a drop goal penalty that sunk France and ensured Shujaa book a date with Spain in the semi-final.

New Format

The new format in the back to back tournaments in the Series where teams are placed in four pools of three is energy-sapping. Teams must win all their matches to proceed to the next round. Drawn in a tricky Pool B that had the red-hot France and Ireland, Kenya were slated to kick off the tournament by playing the first match against Ireland.

In this match, Amaitsa, Kevin Wekesa and Patrick Odongo scored one try each. Amaitsa converted his on try before Ireland replied with a consolation try by Josh Castello in the dying minutes. Mark Roche converted. 

This was a dream start for Kenya who were already resigned to flying into Los Angeles to battle in the qualifier in a mission to retain their core team status. On a day when the oher African tetam, South Africa struggled after losing their opening match 10-38 to Great Britain, Kenya faced France next. 

Former Skipper

Vincent Onyala, a former Shujaa skipper broke through two players to open the scores in the third minute. Amaitsa converted for a 7-0 lead. France tied the scores with a try by Joe Karaba in teh ninth minute and Enahemo Artaud converted. Amaitsa kicked over the winner in the 16th minute.

After the win, Shujaa captain George Ooro led his charges to the ‘Kenya Corner’ to thank their vocal fans who have kept faith with the team. In the meantime, South Africa bounced back to record a narrow 26-24 win over Argentina, the form team of the season. 

Argentina bounced back to edge out Great Britain 19-12 to reach the final four, a win that also earned them the season’s WRSWS league title before the top eight teams proceed to LA for the championship.

Repeat Match

Spain and Kenya meet barely one week after Shujaa upset the Spaniards 19-0 in Hong Kong. In the other semi-final, Argentina have a date with Fiji.

In the women’s category, New Zealand who will face France in the cup-semi-finals also clinched the league title. They did not concede a point and beat China 38-0 and Brazil 48-0. Their first real test will be the semi-final against France. 

Rivals Australia will play against Canada in the other semi-final.

Day two of Singapore Sevens concludes the league stage of the WRSWS circuit with the top eighty teams traveling to Los Angeles next month to challenge one another for the championship. At the same time, the bottom four teams in the World Series must show their mettle in a qualifier that features four teams from the Challenger Series. The top four teams in the qualifiers shall gain a slot to next season’s SEries as a core team.

Singapore Sevens

Day one results

Men

Pool A: Argentina, Great Britain, South Africa.

Great Britain 38 South Africa 10, Argentina 24 South Africa 26, Argentina 19 Great Britain 12.

Pool B: France, Ireland, Kenya.

Ireland 7 Kenya 17, France 7 Kenya 10, France 19 Ireland 26.

Pool C: Australia, Spain, Uruguay

Spain 21 Uruguay 12, Australia 5 Uruguay 28, Australia 7 Spain 28.

Pool D: Fiji, New Zealand, USA. 

New Zealand 24 USA 19, Fiji 38 USA 0, Fiji 36 New Zealand 5.

Day two fixtures

Ninth place semi-final: France v Australia, South Africa v USA.

Fifth place semi-final: Ireland v Uruguay, Great Britain v New Zealand.

Cup semi-final: Kenya v Spain, Argentina v Fiji.

Women

Pool A: New Zealand, Brazil, China.

Brazil 5 China 19, New Zealand 38 China 0, New Zealand 48 Brazil 0.

Pool B: Australia, Japan, Spain.

Japan 24 Spain 12, Australia 31 Spain 0, Australia 43 Japan 5.

Pool C: Canada, USA, Great Britain.

USA 12 Great Britain 15, Canada 14 Great Britain 5, Canada 31 USA 21.

Pool D: France, Fiji, Ireland.

Fiji 26 Ireland 12, France 17 Ireland 0, France 24 Fiji 19. 

Day two fixtures

Ninth place semi-final: Spain v USA, Brazil v Ireland.

Fifth place semi-final: Japan v Great Britain, China v Fiji.Cup semi-final: Australia v Canada, New Zealand v France.