The two Kenya teams in Los Angeles have a different mission when the curtain comes down on the 2024/2025 World Rugby Sevens World Series with a two-day championship event at the LA Galaxy soccer stadium on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Initially, the teams, Shujaa and Kenya Lionesses were supposed to play in a qualifier tournament that paved the way for promotion as a core team of the World RugbySevens World Series next season. Shujaa finished ninth in the Series while Lionesses made history by winning the three-leg Challenger Series ahead of South Africa, Argentina and Colombia.

World Rugby had indicated that the top four teams in the Challenger Series would be in LA for a qualifier event. That was the arrangement until January when the governing body reneged on this promise. It was not until last month, April that World Rugby stated they would be making further changes to the format, the third in as many seasons. 

In the new format, World Rugby reduced the number of core teams from 12 to eight for next season. That move effectively locked the door on teams that finished in the bottom four who will now compete in a hybrid division two series featuring six teams – men and women – playing in three tournaments.

Further Change

A further change has also seen the introduction of a third tournament to be played on a one-off format comprising teams that have qualified from the six regions.

This will be the scenario when Shujaa and Lionesses don the national colors in what was supposed to have been the highlight of their season. Shujaa will not be a core team next season and Lionesses are also going to be locked out of what has become an ‘elite’ competition reserved for eight teams.

Instead, the two teams will have to be content with playing in the second division next season. The second tier tournament has only three tournaments and will feature six teams – men and women. 

Must Win

To qualify for this tournament, Shujaa and Lionesses who will play away from the main pitch must finish among the top three. The winners of each pool automatically qualify for the new division two series while the third and second-placed teams proceed to a play-off in which the winners also qualify.

Shujaa: Kevin Wekesa, Vincent Onyala, George Ooro, Dennis Abukuse, William Mwanji, Brian Tanga, Samuel Asati, Anthony Omondi, Nygel Amaitsa, Patrick Odongo, Floyd Wabwire, Festus Shiasi, Jone Tavaga.

Officials: Kevin Wambuan(coach), Louis Kisia (assistant coach), Andrew Amonde (strength and conditioning), Lamech Bogonko (physiotherapist), Morgan Ngumbi (team manager).

Lionesses: Grace Okulu, Sheila Chajira, Judith Okumu, Stellah Wafula, Sinaida Nyachio, Freshia Oduor, Sharon Auma, Moreen Muritu, Diana Ochieng, Christabel Lindo, Edith Nariaka, Phoebe Otieno, Faith Livoi.

Officials: Dennis Mwanja (coach), Simon Odongo (assistant coach), Jeff Onyango (strength and conditioning), John Elly (physiotherapist), Camilyne Oyuayo (team manager).

Pools

Men

Pool A: Kenya, USA, Portugal, Samoa

Pool B: Uruguay, Ireland, Canada, Germany

Women

Pool A: Brazil, Spain, Kenya, Columbia..

Pool B: China, Ireland, South Africa, Argentina

Match schedule

Men: Ireland v West Germany, Uruguay v Canada, Kenya v Samoa, USA v Portugal, Ireland v Canada, Uruguay v Germany, USA v Samoa, Kenya v Portugal, USA v Kenya, Portugal v Samoa, Germany v Canada, Uruguay v Ireland.

Women: Ireland v South Africa, China v Argentina, Spain v Kenya, Brazil v Colombia, Ireland v Argentina, China v South Africa, Spain v Colombia, Brazil v Kenya, South Africa v China, China v Ireland, Kenya v Colombia, Brazil v Spain.