Kenya’s Shujaa lived up to their nickname by signing off with an emphatic performance at the conclusion of the league stage of the World Rugby Sevens World Series by reaching the final of Singapore, Sevens, the sixth stop of the Grand Prix event. 

In they final, their first this season, Shujaa put up a spirited performance before losing to Fiji 12-21 in a repeat an a similar final nine years ago in 2016 which Shujaa won. Despite the loss that saw Kenya finish ninth and miss retaining their core status, the performance in the last two legs in Hong Kong and Singapore was enough statement of a team that matured after a painful re-development stage.

The re-building started with a stellar performance in the second tier Challenger Series where Shujaa finished second to Uruguay in 2024 and regained their core status in the play-off in Madrid, Spain in May last year. Shujaa find themselves in a similar scenario where they have to do it all again in another play-off this time in Losy Angeles, USA.

A Promise

In Hong Kong, there was a promise when Shujaa, despite playing much better than they did in Vancouver, Canada dropped to the ninth place play-off but not before upsetting one of the form teams Spain 19-0. As fate would have it, the two teams renewed their rivalry in Singapore at the semi-final stage which Kenya narrowly won 12-5.

The rebirth of Shujaa in Singapore was a result of defiance, individual brilliance and resilience from a team that understood the importance of the task ahead. Playing the first match ina  tournament is not always easy and for most of the season, commentators have stated that you never know the Kenya team that would turn up on the day.

At the starrt of the campaign, a new technical bench of Kevin Wambua, Louis Kisia and Andrew Amonde set their eyes on finishing among the top eight teams in the 12-team format for an automatic qualification as a core team next season. They eventually finished a strong ninth and started with a statement 17-7 win over Ireland, another team that is rebuilding. In this match, Nygel Amaitsa, Kevin Wekesa and Patrick Odongo scored one try each with Amaitsa also slotting a conversion.

Dream Start

The dream start set up a bruising and crucial fixture against France which Kenya narrowly won 10-7. Amaitsa kicked the winning penalty. The qin saw Shujaa qualify for the semi-final under a new format in the back-to-back tournaments where the top four teams from each pool proceeded to the semis, bypassing the quarter finals.

From here, it was pure grit and recalling the words of Crown Paints, a late sponsor who jumped on the wagon for the final two legs, Singapore held a special place in the hearts of Kenyan rugby fans and pundits. The dream was realistic under a local technical bench.

Spain who eventually finished third in the overall standings presented the next obstacle for the second week. Amaitsa and Odongo again lifted Shujaa with a 12-5 win.

A repeat final against Fiji was a culmination of Kenya’s grit. At any big event, singing your national anthem before a match is emotional and the determination and mixed emotions showed as the teams lined up against one another. A familiar face, Jone Kubu, a Fijian donned Kenyan colors.

Try Scorers

Amaitsa and William Mwanji scored one try each for Kenya with Amaitsa adding a conversion. Fiji replied with three converted tries by Viwa Naduvalo (two), Rauto Vakadranu while Sakiusa Siqila, Filipe Sauturaga and Manueli Maisamoa slotted conversions. 

The team has a well deserved rest before boarding the next flight to Los Angeles but there is a crucial assignment where the technical bench will keenly monitor the final stages of the Challenger Series that starts in Krakow, Poland on April 11-12. Shujaa’s potential opponents will be in Poland. Among them are Chile, Portugal, Germany, Samoa, Canada and Japan.

In Singapore, Argentina and New Zealand retained the men’s and women’s league titles. As a parting shot, murmours of the final stages of the tournament being diluted after Argentina and New Zealand won were abound. Those close to team managements hinted that they rested most of their players and lifted off their foot off the gas pedal to prepare for the championship in LA.

Singapore Sevens

Day two results

Cup semi-final: Kenya 12 Spain 5, Argentina 22 Fiji 34; Play off: Spain 14 Argentina 33; Final: Kenya 12 Fiji 21

Fifth place semi-final: Ireland 5 Uruguay 27, Great Britain 24 New Zealand 22; Final: Uruguay 29 Great Briatin 33.

Seventh place play-off: Ireland 21 New Zealand 19.

Ninth place semi-final: France 5 Australia 28, South Africa 14 USA 12; Final: Australia 7 South Africa 26.

Eleventh place play off: France 12 USA 17.

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.

Final standings: Argentina 104, Fiji 96, Spain 88, South Afriva 70, France 65, Australia 57, New Zealand 56, Great Britain 50, Kenya 36, Uruguay 27, Ireland 23, USA 12. 

Women

Day two results

Cup semi-final: Australia 45 Canada 7, New Zealand 40 France 14; Play-off: Canada 21 France 5; Final: Australia 7 New Zealand 31.

Fifth place semi-final: Japan 21 Great Britain 12, China 27 Fiji 0; Final: Japan 26 China 12.

Seventh place play-off: Great Britain 14 Fiji 43.

Ninth place semi-final: Spain 15 USA 5, Brazil 10 Ireland 26; Final: Spain 17 Ireland 5.

Eleventh place play-off: USA 26 Brazil 21.

Day one results

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. 

Final standings: New Zealand 116, Australia 106, France 80, Canada 72, Japan 64, USA 58, Fiji 46, Great Britain 43, Brazil 33, China 30, Ireland 22, Spain 14.