Shujaa in relegation zone after poor show at Cape Town Sevens
Rugby
By
Washington Onyango
| Dec 12, 2022
Kenya Sevens are staring at a tough battle to avoid being relegated from the World Rugby Sevens Series after another poor show in the third leg of the 2022-2023 season in South Africa.
Shujaa finished 13th to collect three points from Cape Town Sevens as Damian McGrath charges to end the year winless at the group stage level where in three outings they have failed to win any pool match.
Kenya collected one point from Hong Kong Sevens before improving to get five in the previous leg in Dubai.
With three points from South Africa, Shujaa are now 14th in the World standings after three rounds.
Kenya will have to put up with early pressure as they sit at the bottom of the log with one point with the threat of relegation very much looming this season as the number of teams for the 2024 Series will reduce from 16 to 12 to equal the number of women's teams and align with the Olympic competition structure.
New Cape Town Sevens champions Samoa lead the standings on 47 points same as South Africa who won the Dubai leg two weeks ago.
On Sunday, Kenya came from behind to defeat Canada 21-10 in the play-off for 13th place.
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After coming short in securing a spot in the main cup quarterfinals, Shujaa had dropped to the playoff places and found themselves in the 13th place final after beating noisy neighbors Uganda to book their spot in the shield final.
In the Shield match, Daniel Taabu, Edmund Anya and Johnstone Olindi crossed over the white wash in the win as Anton Ngongo and Brock Webster went over for the North Americans.
Kenya finished bottom of Group C when they lost to Argentina 19-5 last Friday. They would then go down to New Zealand 31-5 before drawing 5-5 with Spain on Saturday.
There was no redemption for McGrath after losing 19-14 to Ireland despite leading 14-0 at the break in the Challenge Trophy quarter-final.