There is a possibility of having two African teams in both categories of next season’s World Rugby Sevens Series when the three-location World Rugby Sevens Championship kicks in Hong Kong on April 17, 2020. 

Already, South Africa who won the World Rugby Sevens Series League in the top tier competition under a new format have qualified and will be top seeds in the three tournaments that will culminate in seven other teams qualifying. Kenya is keen to return to the top tier.

Consequently, it will be a short turnaround for the four teams who qualified from the Tier 2 competitions that ended in Sao Paulo, Brazil on March 30, 2026. South Africa women’s team are also gunning for promotion to the top tier.

World Rugby released the pools for the opening championship tournament in Hong Kong. South Africa, winners of the World Rugby Sevens Series, are the top seeds. They have been placed in Pool A with Argentina, Spain and Uruguay. South Africa’s women’s team is in Pool B with Australia, Canada and Great Britain.

New Format

Kenya have been drawn in a tough Pool C which has New Zealand, Australia and USA while Pool B has Fiji, France, Great Britain and Germany. The new format has 12 teams. Four of these teams qualified from the Tier 2 competition.

At the end of the three legs, the top seven will be promoted to the top tier featuring eight teams. According to World Rugby, this format gives an opportunity for teams to proceed to the top tier within one season.

While the second tier teams have just completed their qualifiers, the top tier teams have had nearly one month’s rest. Teams like Argentina and South Africa (women) have had to proceed from Tier 3 while Kenya, Germany, Uruguay, and the USA played only in the three Tier tournaments in Nairobi, Montevideo, and Sao Paulo.

Harder Championship

Kevin Wambua, the Shujaa coach, acknowledged the championship will be much harder. In an interview with www.thesportsnwsarna.com in Sao Paulo, the coach stated Shujaa jas played at the top level under a different format. “These are not new teams. The plan is to focus and play better,” he said.

By not playing in the top tier this concluded season, the players are motivated to make a statement. “They are hungrier, motivated and keen to  face the challenge without being complacent. Obviously, we cannot play like we have played in Tier 2,” he added.

The prospect of facing USA again in the championship is important for the coach after Kenya defeated the USA in Sao Paulo. “The margins have been small. We narrowly lost in Nairobi and in Montevideo, we led before losing but bounced back to win in Sao Paulo,” Wambua observed.

Own Mistakes

They are happy to have found a formula to beat the USA who could be a different side in Hong Kong. George Ooro, the Shujaa captain, observed the USA had beaten Kenya twice in the Tier 2 tournaments because of their own mistakes. ‘Our discipline has cost us. Also we committed many players in the rucks which created space outside,” he commented after Shujaa beat USA in Sao Paulo.

Ooro exuded confidence as Shujaa travels to Hong Kong. “We know our target after narrowly missing last time. Our goal is to play our hearts out in whatever pool we are drawn in Hong Kong. These are tough teams and it’s a new challenge,” Ooro stated.

His opposite number, Stephen Tomasin of the USA said they were motivated to play in the championship. “Our focus was to qualify. At this level, there are very small margins and it’s tough,” he admitted.

Good Momentum

Paul Odera, the KRU Director of Rugby was pleased with Kenya’s qualification. “It’s where we want to be,” he stated. “There’s a good momentum with how the team is playing,” he added.

Like other teams, Kenya monitored the performance of teams in the top tier. “We have had a chance to look at the teams on the top tier and how they play because that’s where we wanted to go. It’s quicker and the intensity is much higher, the teams are much fitter, there are many passes. The play time with the ball is much longer. I do want us to get to the top tier.  If you look at some of the teams that are placed seventh or eight, I don’t think we are far from them.. We have a chance if we play at our potential,” Odera concluded.

Shujaa re-assemble after the Easter break to prepare for the first tournament in Hong Kong. 

Hong Kong 7s Pools

Pool A: South Africa, Argentina, Spain, Uruguay.

Pool B: Fiji, France, Great Britain, Germany.

Pool C: New Zealand, Australia, Kenya, USA.

Women

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

Pool B: Australia, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa.

Pool C: USA, France, Argentina, Spain.

World Rugby Championship Venue and Dates

Hong Kong, China:  April 17-19

Valladolid, Spain: May 29-31Bordeaux, France: June 5-7.