Why Kenya Sevens must pull up their socks at Cape Town 7s

Shujaa squad at Dubai Sevens. [Kenya Sevens]

After a mixed performance at the Dubai Sevens, Kenya Sevens team Shujaa head into the second leg of the HSBC SVNS 2025 in Cape Town with their work cut out.

Shujaa managed only two wins from five matches in Dubai, finishing 10th overall out of the 12 competing teams, and will now look to rectify the shortcomings in an even more competitive setup in South Africa this weekend.

The team showed flashes of brilliance in Dubai, with speedster Patrick Odongo and powerhouse forward George Ooro impressing on the global stage. However, inconsistency proved costly.

After a mixed performance at the Dubai Sevens, Kenya Sevens team Shujaa head into the second leg of the HSBC SVNS 2025 in Cape Town with their work cut out.

Shujaa managed only two wins from five matches in Dubai, finishing 10th overall out of the 12 competing teams, and will now look to rectify the shortcomings in an even more competitive setup in South Africa this weekend.

The team showed flashes of brilliance in Dubai, with speedster Patrick Odongo and powerhouse forward George Ooro impressing on the global stage. However, inconsistency proved costly.

After a narrow 24-19 extra-time loss to World and Olympic champions France in the opener, Shujaa rebounded with a stunning 22-17 win over South Africa in the second pool match.

However, a disappointing 31-14 defeat to Australia ended their hopes of advancing to the Main Cup quarter-finals.

In the ninth-place semi-finals, Kenya dispatched Ireland 21-7 but stumbled in the final, losing 15-7 to Uruguay.

Reflecting on their performance, Shujaa captain Samwel Asati praised his teammates for their teamwork and camaraderie but admitted there is room for improvement.

"We've learned big lessons from Dubai," said Asati. "Our ball handling, kick-offs, and discipline need significant work. I'm proud of how the team has bonded, but we must build on this foundation to compete with the best."

Adding to the challenge is a new competition format introduced for Cape Town Sevens, which raises the stakes.

The 12 teams are divided into four pools of three, with only the pool winners advancing to the semi-finals. Kenya finds itself in Pool B alongside Dubai finalists Spain and Australia, setting the stage for intense battles.

Shujaa head coach Kelvin Wambua remains optimistic despite the tough road ahead. "Playing with eight new players in Dubai was a challenge, but they surprised me with their performances," said Wambua.

"We've shown glimpses of what we're capable of, and I promise there's more to come from this team. Cape Town will be a chance for us to prove our potential."

The Cape Town leg will also feature strong competition across all pools. Fiji, Great Britain, and Uruguay headline Pool A, while Argentina, South Africa, and Ireland make up Pool C. Pool D features heavyweights New Zealand, France, and the USA.

The 2025 HSBC SVNS series includes seven iconic global destinations, with Cape Town being the second stop after Dubai.

The series will culminate in Los Angeles, where the top eight teams will battle for the HSBC SVNS World Championship at the Dignity Health Sports Park, also the rugby sevens venue for the LA 2028 Olympics.

Shujaa will need to dig deep in Cape Town to build momentum and re-establish their standing among the world's elite.

Cape Town Sevens

Group A: Fiji, Great Britain, Uruguay

Group B: Spain, Australia, Kenya

Group C: Argentina, South Africa, Ireland

Group D: New Zealand, France, USA

World Rugby Sevens Series standings

Fiji - 20 points
Spain - 18 points
Argentina - 16 points
New Zealand - 14 points
France - 12 points
South Africa - 10 points
Australia - 8 points
Great Britain - 6 points
Uruguay - 4 points**
Kenya - 3 points**
Ireland - 2 points**
USA - 1 point**
(**-Relegation zone)