Shujaa to face Chile, France in opening matches of Dubai 7s

Tom Sarg (C) of Samuari tackled by Andrew Amonde (L) and Geoffrey Okwatch of Shujaa during their Tusker Safari Sevens 2019 tournament match against Samurai at RFUEA Grounds on October 20, 2019. Shujaa won 19-14 [Photo/Stafford Ondego]

The Kenya national rugby sevens team, Shujaa, will launch their Emirates Dubai Sevens Invitational tournament campaign against Chile at 10.42 am on Friday in their Pool "Blue" outing at The Sevens Stadium, Dubai.

Shujaa will then battle France in the second match of the day at 2:44pm before playing the final match of the day against Spain at 5:18 pm East African Times.

Kenya are in Pool Blue alongside Spain, Chile, and France as Madrid Sevens winners Argentina play in pool Red which has Japan Canada and Uganda.

In pool red, neighbours Uganda will open their account against Argentina where they will also face Canada before wrapping up against Japan.

Amonde will reclaim the captaincy role with Billy Odhiambo as his assistant. The squad also sees the return of playmaker Eden Agero.

Vincent Onyala, Alvin Otieno, Bush Mwale, Willy Ambaka, Harold Anduvate, Johnstone Olindi, Daniel Taabu, Tony Omondi, Jefferey Olouch, Nelson Oyoo, Jacob Ojee and Derrick Keyoga have maintained their places in Innocent Simiyu’s squad.

Meanwhile, Kenya lionesses will face Japan, USA and Canada .

The Invitational sevens event will act as a competitive training camp including two tournament weekends for some of the best rugby sevens teams in the world from April 3-April 4 and April 8-April 9 as part of the Tokyo Olympics Preparations.

The Emirates Invitational 7s will see fourteen international rugby teams who are already into bio-bubbles across the Emirate participate in the Olympic preparation event with all training and competition at the home of the Emirates Dubai 7s, The Sevens Stadium.

World Rugby accredits the tournament with international referees and officials flying into support as part of their Olympic preparation.

Men

Red: Canada, Japan, Argentina, Uganda

Blue: Spain, Chile, Kenya, France

Women

Brazil, Kenya, USA, France 1, France 2, Japan, Canada