• RUGBY

• Frank Rotich 1 month ago

Kenya Shujaa set for Hong Kong Sevens as promotion fight begins

Kenya Sevens team, Shujaa, has named a strong and experienced squad for the opening leg of the HSBC World Sevens Series Championship set for Hong Kong later this month.

Head coach Kevin Wambua has largely maintained the squad that finished second in the SVNS 2 series, making only one change. Kabras Sugar scrum-half Brian Tanga comes in to replace Chrisant Ojwang, who is out with a hamstring injury.

Tanga, who made his debut in Hong Kong back in 2016, is expected to bring experience and stability to the team as they aim to return to the top tier of world rugby.

Speaking after naming the squad, Wambua said Tanga’s understanding of the game will be key, especially in tight matches.

The team has also received a major boost off the field, with sponsors SportPesa awarding Shujaa a performance bonus of Sh3.15 million following strong results in Nairobi, Montevideo, and Sao Paulo SVNS.

KCB Rugby leads in numbers, providing six players including co-captains George Ooro and Samuel Asati. Other key players in the squad include Vincent Onyala, Festus Shiasi, and David Nyangige.

The squad also features Kabras Sugar’s Tanga and Kevin Wekesa, alongside Menengai Oilers’ Denis Abukuse and John Okoth, who played a big role in Kenya’s defensive performance in recent tournaments.

Additional firepower comes from kicker Nigel Amaitsa, Gabriel Ayimba, and speedster Patrick Odongo.

Co-captain Asati says the team is focused on making a strong start, especially in their opening match against Australia.

Shujaa have been drawn in a tough Pool C alongside Australia, New Zealand, and the USA, setting up a challenging start to the tournament.

The team is expected to leave the country on April 12 ahead of the competition scheduled for April 17 to 19 in Hong Kong.

To secure promotion back to the top-tier HSBC SVNS 1 series, Shujaa must finish among the top eight teams across the three championship legs.