Shujaa drop to 11th place playoffs after fourth defeat at Vancouver Sevens
Rugby
By
Washington Onyango
| Feb 23, 2025
Kenya Sevens' struggles at the Vancouver leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series continued on Sunday as they fell 19-14 to Uruguay in the ninth-place semifinals, marking their fourth consecutive defeat at BC Place.
Shujaa had started the match positively, with Fijian-born Kenyan international Jone Kubu scoring his first two tries for the team. However, it was Uruguay who struck first through Tomas Etcheverry, who crossed over in the early minutes of the game to give his side a 7-0 lead.
Kenya responded strongly, with Kubu-who plies his trade for four-time Kenya Cup champions Kabras Sugar-scoring twice to put Shujaa 14-7 ahead at halftime.
However, Uruguay fought back in the second half, applying sustained pressure that saw Juan Gonzalez level the scores at 14-14 in the 10th minute after a well-executed scrum move. Just two minutes later, Gonzalez struck again, pushing Uruguay into a 19-14 lead.
In the dying moments, Kenya sought a late winner. Brian Tanga's precise grabber kick almost set up Floyd Wabwire for a try, but Uruguay managed to secure possession and kick the ball out to confirm their victory.
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This loss sees Kenya drop to the 11th-place playoffs, where they will now face Ireland, who also suffered a defeat to the USA. The crucial clash is scheduled for 9:50 p.m. East African Time.
Shujaa's performance in Vancouver has been disappointing, as they remain in the relegation zone. They opened their campaign with a 24-0 loss to Argentina before succumbing to a 33-7 defeat against France. Their struggles continued with a 28-10 loss to Great Britain, leaving them with no victories in four matches.
With Kenya's World Series status on the line, they must rally against Ireland and put in a strong performance to salvage some pride. The focus now shifts to their ability to respond under pressure and secure a much-needed win to close out their Vancouver Sevens campaign.