Kenya’s national seven-a-side rugby team, Shujaa have destiny in their hands as the World Rugby Sevens Championship heads to Bordeaux, France which is the penultimate round for the three-leg competition.

At minimum, Shujaa must secure enough points to ensure a return to top-tier competition next season after a heart-breaking one season out – for the second time. There are several permutations to be considered especially after Shujaa were drawn in the same pool with South Africa for the third time.

In Bordeaux, a back-to-back tournament, World Rugby will maintain the same format with teams proceeding to the quarter finals instead of a direct qualification to the semi finals adopted at the league stage. Therefore, Shujaa must gun for a place in the quarters at the minimum to punch their ticket to the top tier after finishing seventh and eight in the opening two tournaments.

Current Standings

The current standings has Shujaa and France on 14 points each. South Africa leads the pack with 38 points ahead of Argentina (34), Australia (30), Fiji (26), Spain (26), New Zealand (26). An additional twist is that the top four teams at the conclusion of the Championship will automatically qualify for the next Olympics in Los Angeles.

Therefore, if South Africa finishes among the top four, Shujaa have a chance of appearing for their fourth Olympics after competing in 2016 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), 2020 (Tokyo, Japan), and 2024 (Paris, France) if they win the Africa qualifier. 

The second tournament in Valladolid, Spain saw Shujaa drawn in Pool A with South Africa, Australia, and Great Britain. There is only one switch with Fiji as the new opponents after Australia won in Valladolid. Two teams from Kenya’s pool in Spain reached the final, a testimony of the caliber of teams Kenya faced and still managed to finish among the top eight.

Kenya’s resilience

Also, the score line margins at the pool stage; 10-15 v Australia, 0-14 v South Africa, 12-7 v Great Britain demonstrated Kenya’s resilience against tough opponents. Notably, Australia twice beat South Africa 24-14 at the pool stage and 26-19 in the final.

Although Kenya lost 5-14 to France in the play-off for the seventh and eight positions, they must show up in Bordeaux to cement their place among the top eight. Perhaps Kenya’s fight for survival has vindicated them after a change of format saw their ‘qualification in 2025’ quashed with the teams in the top tier reduced to 12.

Then, Great Britain and Kenya were involved in a battle to qualify but Kenya finished ninth and missed the cut. Great Britain who are currently placed 12th in both categories are unlikely to survive the axe which brings an end to 7s in the United Kingdom. They will not go down without a fight.

Chasing Teams

The chasing teams are not making anything easier. Hosts France will be a different team in Bordeaux despite being drawn in Pool C against Argentina, New Zealand and Germany. Uruguay and the USA who qualified for the championship from the second-tier tournament have found the going tough and at the moment could be planning for one more season in the second tier.

In the women’s category, Australia and New Zealand continue to dictate the pace. Australia set up a promising climax with a win in Valladolid. They have a two-point lead over New Zealand who finished third in Spain. 

Spain is poised to replace Great Britain in the top tier. They are currently placed eighth behind Australia (38), New Zealand (36), USA (30), France (28), Canada (28), Japan (20), and Fiji (16). Brazil, South Africa, and Argentina who qualified for the championship from the second tier have found the going tough. 

Format Review

At the conclusion of the championship, World Rugby could review the three formats. Already, there has been a debate of reverting to a 12-team format in the near future. Also, the organizers could scrutinize the second tier to ensure competitiveness especially after a low-key third tournament in Sao Paulo.

The third tournament in Sao Paulo saw Belgium win the men’s category. What was evident was the positional changes made by teams that had already qualified for the championship after an impressive performance in the opening two tournaments in Nairobi, Kenya and Montevideo, Uruguay.

Most technical benches decided to give game time to their wider playing unit, resting their key players for the tough task ahead in the Championship.

Valid Debate

As a result, Brazil and Kenya Lionesses were the only teams whose results were crucial to championship qualification. Whether this is a valid debate, it will be interesting to see if the formats are changed by World Rugby.

On a light note, the Kenya Corner at the championship has been vibrant, a complete contrast to the league. The fans have brought life to the tournament and their support could only be complimented by Kenya’s qualifications to the top tier.

Bordeaux, France Draw

Women

Pool A: New Zealand, France, South Africa, Argentina.

Pool B: Australia, Japan, Fiji, Brazil.

Pool C: USA, Canada, Spain, Great Britain.

Men

Pool A: South Africa, Fiji, Kenya, Great Britain.

Pool B: Australia, Spain, USA, Uruguay.

Pool C: Argentina, New Zealand, France, Germany.

Championship Standings

Men: South Africa 38, Argentina 34, Australia 30, Fiji 26, Spain 26, New Zealand 26, France 14, Kenya 14, Uruguay 6, Germany 5, USA 5, Great Britain 4.

Women: Australia 38, New Zealand 36, USA 30, France 28, Canada 28, Japan 20, Fiji 16, Spain 12, Brazil 7, South Africa 5, Argentina 4, Great Britain 4.

World Rugby Sevens Series Championship

Valladolid, Spain, Results.

Women

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

Japan 24 Brazil 7, New Zealand 38 Argentina 7, Japan 33 Argentina 10, New Zealand 40 Brazil 12, Brazil 14 Argentina 7, New Zealand 47 Japan 14.

Pool B: Australia, USA, Fiji, South Africa.

USA 19 Fiji 26, Australia 26 South Africa 12, USA 26 South Africa 12, Australia 45 Fiji 5, Fiji 17 South Africa 12, Australia 10 USA 14. 

Pool C: France, Canada, Spain, Great Britain.

Canada 35 Spain 5, France 34 Great Britain 0, Canada 21 Great Britain 12, France 33 Spain 7, Spain 26 Great Britain 0, France 7 Canada 24.

Cup Quarter Finals: Australia 21 France 5, New Zealand 33 Spain 7, Canada 40 Japan 5, USA 40 Fiji 14; Semi Finals: Australia 28 New Zealand 26; Canada 12 USA 14; Play-off: New Zealand 50 Canada 14; Final: Australia 27 USA 14..

Fifth Place Play-Off: France 29 Japan 12.

Seventh Place Play-Off: Fiji 14 Spain 5.

Ninth Place Semi Final: South Africa 19 Argentina 17, Brazil 19 Great Britain 17; Play-Off: South Africa 19 Brazil 12.

11th Place Play-off: Argentina 24 Great Britain 19.

Men

Pool A: South Africa, Australia, Kenya, Great Britain.

Australia 15 Kenya 10, South Africa 17 Great Britain 12, Australia 26 Great Britain 21, South Africa 14 Kenya 0, Kenya 12 Great Britain 7, South Africa 14 Australia 24.

Pool B:  Argentina, New Zealand, Uruguay, Germany.

New Zealand 40 Uruguay 0, Argentina 26 Germany 17, New Zealand 33 Germany 12, Argentina 40 Uruguay 14, Uruguay 0 Germany 52, Argentina 24 New Zealand 0.

Pool C: Spain, Fiji, France, USA.

Fiji 26 France 12, Spain 26 USA 21, Fiji 19 USA 7, Spain 14 France 19, France 19 USA 14, Spain 14 Fiji 12.

Cup Quarter Finals: New Zealand 0 Fiji 40, Australia 21 Kenya 0, Spain 12 South Africa 14, Argentina 21 France 19; Semi Finals: Fiji 14 Australia 21; South Africa 19 Argentina 7; Play-off: Fiji 17 Argentina 28; Final: Australia 26 South Africa 19.

Fifth Place Play-Off: Spain 12 New Zealand 22.

Seventh Place Play-Off: France 14 Kenya 5.

Ninth Place Semi Final: Great Britain 21 USA 26, Germany 24 Uruguay 17; Play-Off: USA 28 Germany 21.11th Place Play-off: Great Britain 17 Uruguay 19.