Oyoo not ready to let Shujaa relegated from World Rugby Sevens Series
Rugby
By
Washington Onyango
| May 05, 2023
Kenya Sevens captain Nelson Oyoo on Friday said they will not let Shujaa go down ahead of the last two remaining legs of the World Rugby Sevens Series to be played in Toulouse and London.
Oyoo who will captain the national sevens team again after being named in the travelling squad by head coach Damian McGrath believes they have the quality to pull themselves out of the mud.
Kenya will be fighting to avoid being relegated form the series next week when they head to France for the Toulouse Sevens where they will face off against Uruguay, New Zealand and Canada in Group A
Currently 13th in the standings heading into the final two stretches (Toulouse and London), Kenya has to collect at least 12 points and above in the remaining legs to stand a chance of avoiding relegation.
According to World Rugby, the 15th ranked core teams and below based on accumulated Series points following the tenth round in Toulouse will be relegated.
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The teams ranked 12th, 13th and 14th at the end of Toulouse will enter a four-team relegation play-off together with the Challenger Series 2023 winners at the eleventh and final round of the Series in London.
The relegation play-off will be round-robin format with the top two teams then playing a final.
The winner will become the 12th core team on the 2024 Series, while the other three teams will enter their respective Regional Sevens Championships in order to qualify for the 2024 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.
Speaking to KRU media and press after the squad naming, Oyoo said they believe in themselves and will not let Kenyans down.
"Everyone in the team knows the situation we are in right now and we have to pull through in the last two legs. It has been a very competitive and challenging season for us both off and on the pitch but we will give our best.
"We cannot let the team go down yet. The quality of the squad is remarkable with some of the best players and uprising future stars in the team whom if we play according to plan and execute our set plays, I believe we can stay afloat," said Oyoo.
Shujaa squad
Nelson Oyoo (Captain), Herman Humwa, Edmund Anya, Brian Tanga, Johnstone Olindi, Alvin Otieno, Kevin Wekesa, Jeff Oluoch, John Okoth, George Ooro, Daniel Taabu, Denis Abukuse, Billy Odhiambo, Ronaldo Omondi, Tony Omondi