Shujaa knocked out of Toulouse Sevens main cup

Shujaa's Bush Mwale scores a try during Singapore Sevens.[Courtesy-World Rugby]

Kenya Sevens failed to proceed through to the quarterfinals for the fifth time in a row after dropping to the Challenge Trophy at the seventh leg of the World Sevens Rugby leg, Toulouse Sevens in France on Saturday.

Since the beginning of the year, Kenya has not gone past the group stage after poor results in Malaga, Seville, Singapore, Vancouver and now Toulouse.

It’s this string of poor results that the Kenya Rugby Union fired Innocent Simiyu last week.

However, the change of guard at Shujaa has done nothing less to improve the performance of the team after once again failing to impress at the hands of the much-hyped and experienced Briton tactician Damian McGrath.

Shujaa lost their two Group B matches against immediate Vancouver Sevens runners up Fiji and hosts France to miss out on the quarters.

A late win over a weak Welsh side could not change Shujaa’s misfortunes as they dropped to play Scotland in the ninth place quarterfinals.

Kenya begun the Toulouse leg on a low after losing 29-5 to Olympic champions Fiji. Alvin Otieno scored Shujaa’s only try in the defeat.

In the second match, Shujaa failed to tick again after going down 38-14 to France despite Alvin Otieno and Nelson Oyoo touching down.

Yesterday, Kenya redeemed themselves when Herman Humwa bagged a brace of tries and Billy Odhiambo sealed a 19-14 win.

The mixed results saw Shujaa finished third in Group B with five points as France and Fiji proceeded to the quarters.