Kenya’s national rugby sevens team, Shujaa, wrapped up their Perth Sevens campaign in 10th place after a narrow 19-12 defeat to New Zealand in the ninth-place playoff. While the team fell short of their goal to break into the top eight, head coach Kevin Wambua saw plenty of positives in their spirited performances, particularly given the challenges of competing in a tough pool.
The Perth tournament marked the third stop in the 12-leg HSBC Sevens Series, following earlier rounds in Dubai and Cape Town. Next, the series heads to Vancouver, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Shujaa has steadily accumulated points across the season, starting with a 10th-place finish in Dubai (3 points), followed by a ninth-place result in Cape Town (8 points). Their performance in Perth added another three points, bringing their season total to 14 and placing them ninth in the overall standings.
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Reflecting on the team’s journey, Wambua expressed disappointment at missing out on the top eight but emphasized the progress being made.
“We’re disappointed not to have cracked the top eight, especially after coming so close in some games,” Wambua said. “But I’m proud of the resilience the players showed. Wins against Uruguay and the USA prove we’re moving in the right direction.”
Shujaa’s campaign in Perth began in Pool C, where they faced powerhouses New Zealand, Fiji, Uruguay, and the USA. The team opened with a 29-14 loss to New Zealand and narrowly lost 21-14 to Fiji. On Saturday, they responded strongly with a 19-5 victory over Uruguay, followed by a thrilling 26-21 win against the USA in the ninth-place semifinal. However, their rematch with New Zealand in the playoff ended in defeat.
Vincent Onyala Try for Kenya to give Shujaa a 12-7 lead at Halftime #Rugbyke pic.twitter.com/wvCBm51JZ9
— Luhya_Dollar (@Dollar__SM) January 26, 2025
Wambua praised his team’s determination, particularly the performance of the young players, many of whom are new to the series.
“With three-quarters of the squad playing their first season, we’re scoring tries and competing with some of the best teams in the world,” Wambua said. “Going toe-to-toe with top sides like New Zealand and Fiji shows that our systems are working and we’re on the right path.”
Despite the positives, Wambua acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly in set pieces and defensive organization.
“Our lineout was a weak point, and we’ll be putting in the work to sharpen that aspect of our game,” Wambua explained. “Defensively, we need to be more cohesive and make smarter decisions at the breakdown, especially when fatigue sets in.”
Looking ahead, Wambua remains optimistic about the team’s potential and is confident they can build on these performances in future rounds of the series.
“This is a young, hungry squad, and the lessons we’re learning now will set us up for long-term success. We’ll keep trusting our process and refining our systems as we push toward our ultimate goal,” he concluded.
Shujaa’s next test will come in Vancouver, where they’ll aim to continue their steady improvement and climb the standings in the HSBC Sevens Series.
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