The three African teams playing in the second World Rugby Sevens Tier two tournament had mixed luck on the opening day in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Shujaa, the Kenya men’s team and the South Africa women team lost one and won two matches while Kenya Lionesses upset Argentina, winners of the opening leg in Nairobi in February but lost to China and Spain.

In their opening match, Kenya Lionesses battled to a barren draw in the first half of the match against China before Edith Nariaka broke the deadlock with a try in the ninth minute.

They were unable to build up on this lead as China replied with three unanswered tries by Gao Xiaoyang, Le Zhang and Chen Can in a space of three minutes. Hua Bebei kicked over two conversions for a convincing 19-5 win. 

Narrow Win

The next match between South Africa and Spain was narrowly won 15-14 by Spain. They led 15-0 at half time from a try each by Marta Cantabrana, Carmen Miranda Miralles and Denisse Gortazar.

South Africa fought back in the second half scoring two tries through Nadine Roos and Byrhandre Dolf. Roos converted both tries.

The difference in the match between Shujaa and the USA was two conversions by Will Chevalier for the USA. John Okoth scored the opening try for Shujaa in the first minute and Vincent Onyala added the second three minutes later for a 10-0 lead. 

David Still replied for the USA in the fifth minute and Orrin Bizer crossed the line just before the end of the first half. There were no scores in the second half.

Blanked China

After their shock defeat by Spain in the opening match, South Africa women’s team  fired on all cylinders blanking China 38-0. Ayanda Malinga scored a hattrick while Maria Tshiremba, Roos and Shanon-Lee Windvogel added one try each. Roos slotted four conversions.

Borrowing a leaf from South Africa, Kenya Lionesses bounced back from the loss to China by beating Argentina, the top seeds  12-10. Janet Okello opened the scoring in the third minute before Malena Noemi Diaz leveled in the eighth minute. 

Josefina Padellaro appeared to have clinched the winner for Argentina in the 13th minute before Sinaida  Nyachio scored and converted a try at death for the narrow win.

Bounced Back

Shujaa also bounced back from the loss to the USA by beating Canada 19-5 in their second match. Chrisant Ojwang scored a try in the first minute and Floyd Wabwire added the second in the fourth. One minute later Kevin Wekesa scored the third try. 

Nygel Amaitsa converted two tries. Ian Jones scored Canada’s consolation try in the 15th minute.

South Africa followed up their win against China by keeping another clean sheet against Brazil winning 26-0. In this match, Roos scored two tries while Tshiremba and Catha Jacobs added one each. Roos converted three tries. 

Narrowly Beaten

Kenya Lionesses were unable to repeat their giant-killing act against Argentina and were narrowly beaten 19-14 by Spain. Try scorers for Spain were Maria Garcia and Juana Stella (2). 

Miralles and Silvia Morales kicked over one conversion each. Kenya Lionesses replied with a try each by Nariaka, and Okelo. Freshia Oduor and Nyachio kicked over one conversion each.

Shujaa completed the day with a 20-0 win against Belgium. In This match, WEkesa, Onyala, Patrick Odongo and Wabwire scored one try each.

All the teams have two matches on Sunday where Shujaa face Germany before a duel with hosts Uruguay. Kenya Lionesses meet South Africa and wind up against Brazil. 

Results

Women

Saturday, March 21, 2026: China 19 Kenya 5, South Africa 14 Spain 15, Argentina 12 Brazil 7, South Africa 38 China 0, Spain 10 Brazil 15, Argentina 12 Kenya 10, South Africa 26 Brazil 0, Spain 19 Kenya 14, Argentina 22 China 17

Fixtures

Sunday, March 22, 2026: China v Brazil, South Africa v Kenya, Argentina v Spain, Kenya v Brazil. Spain v China, Argentina v South Africa,  

Standing: Argentina 20, South Africa 18, Spain 16, China 14, Kenya 12, Brazil 10.

Men

Uruguay 26 Belgium 7, USA 14 Kenya 10, Germany 21 Canada 14, USA 29 Uruguay 14, Kenya 19 Canada 5, Germany 31 Belgium 5, USA 22 Canada 14, Kenya 20 Belgium 0, Germany 31 Uruguay 26.

Fixtures

Sunday, March 22, 2026: USA v Belgium, Uruguay v Canada, Germany v Kenya, Belgium v Canada, Germany v USA, Kenya v Uruguay. Standing: Germany 20, USA 18, Kenya 16, Uruguay 14, Belgium 12, Canada 10.