)
Should Shujaa at least reach the final of the tournament being held in Zimbabwe this weekend, they will automatically qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Kenya national rugby sevens side Shujaa are set to take part in the Rugby Africa Mens Sevens tournament taking place at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe on the 16th and 17th this month.
Shujaa were relegated from the HSBC World Series after 19 years, and have already started their journey to getting back to the series at the first time of asking, which will begin with their participation at the tournament.
Ahead of the first game between Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso, Pulse Sports Kenya brings you everything you need to know ahead of the big showdown this Saturday and Sunday.
What is the Rugby Africa Mens Sevens tournament?
The Rugby Africa 7s is an annual event that serves as the African continental championship in the sevens version of the game of rugby union.
It doubles up this year as the African qualification tournament for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The winner of the Rugby Africa 7s will earn direct qualification to the Paris 2024 while the second and third placed teams join the second and third placed teams from Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America and South America in the Final Qualification Tournament set for June 2024 for the 12th and final slot to the Olympics.
Remember, the hosts, France, and the top four teams at the close of the 2022/23 World Rugby Sevens Series have secured automatic qualification.
The top two teams from the Rugby Africa 7s will also qualify for the 2024 World Rugby Challenger Series.
)
12:06 - 18.08.2023
RUGBY Kenya Sevens' Dennis Abukuse rubbishes South Africa's threat ahead of Olympic qualifiers
Abukuse believes Shujaa have what it takes to beat South Africa at the upcoming Rugby Africa 7s.
How many teams are participating in the competition?
A total of 12 national teams are set to participate in the tournament, with South Africa and Kenya tipped by the book markers as the favorites to make it all the way to the final.
The 12 teams have been seeded into pools of three. Kenya have been placed in Pool B, alongside Zambia, Namibia and Nigeria.
A total of 12 teams will play at the 2023 Rugby Africa 7s at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe on 16/17 September.
)
18:30 - 13.09.2023
Collins Injera ‘not feeling the pressure’ of taking up coaching at Mwamba
Injera stepped up to head coach role at Mwamba’s sevens side on an interim capacity in the absence of Kevin Wambua who was away on international duty with Shujaa on a couple of legs in the just concluded National Sevens Circuit.
Where can you watch the games?
The matches will be streamed live on the Rugby Afrique Facebook page. You can alternatively access the link here.
How have teams been pooled?
South Africa, who are the strongest sevens side in the continent, have been placed in Pool A alongside, Madagascar, Tunisia and Ivory Coast.
Pool C features Uganda, who are set to face Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and Algeria.
Pool A: South Africa, Madagascar, Tunisia, Ivory Coast
Pool B: Kenya, Zambia, Namibia, Nigeria
Pool C: Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Algeria
What is the order of fixtures?
On Saturday, the group stage fixtures will be played, before the quarter final stages commence on the second day. The respective playoffs will also be taking place on the last day. Below is the order of events;
Saturday 16 September 2023 | East African Time indicated (GMT+3)
Zimbabwe v Burkina Faso | 1000
Uganda v Algeria | 1022
Zambia v Namibia | 1044
Kenya v Nigeria | 1106
Madagascar v Tunisia | 1128
South Africa v Ivory Coast | 1150
Zimbabwe v Algeria | 1244
Uganda v Burkina Faso | 1306
Zambia v Nigeria | 1328
Kenya v Namibia | 1350
Madagascar v Ivory Coast | 1412
South Africa v Tunisia | 1434
Burkina Faso v Algeria | 1550
Namibia v Nigeria | 1612
Kenya v Zambia | 1634
Tunisia v Ivory Coast | 1656
South Africa v Madagascar | 1718
Uganda v Zimbabwe | 1740
Day 2, Sunday 17 September 2023
Cup Quarters
QF1 | B1 v Best Third Placed | 1000
QF2 |C1 v A2 | 1022
QF3 |B2 v C2 | 1044
QF4 | A1 v Second Best Third Placed | 1106
9th Place semis
Third Best Third v Third Best Fourth | 1128
Best Fourth Placed v Second Best Fourth | 1150
5th Place Semis
Loser QF1 v Loser QF2 | 1306
Loser QF3 v Loser QF4 | 1328
Cup Semis
Winner QF1 v Winner QF2 | 1350
Winner QF3 v Winner QF4 | 1412
11th Place Playoff
Loser 9th Place semi 1 v Loser 9th Place semi 2 | 1434
9th Place Playoff
Winner 9th Place semi 1 v Winner 9th Place semi 2 | 1456
7th Place Playoff
Loser 5th Place semi 1 v Loser 5th Place semi 2 | 1550
5th Place Playoff
Winner 5th Place semi 1 v Winner 5th Place semi 2 | 1614
Bronze Medal Playoff
Loser Cup semi 1 v Loser Cup semi 2 | 1641
Gold Medal Match
Winner semi 1 v Winner semi 2 | 1718
What are Shujaa’s chances?
It is a tournament Shujaa have always dominated, having won the 2015 and 2019 editions to qualify for the Rio Olympics in 2016 and the delayed 2020 edition held in Tokyo.
However, they will have their work cut out this time round, as South Africa will be taking part in the tournament for the first time after finishing seventh in last season’s World circuit series.
Wambua’s charges are expected to get to at least the finals as one of the favorites heading into the tournament.
)
12:30 - 12.09.2023
RUGBY: Bling Wambua unveils Kenya Sevens squad and combat plan for top dogs South Africa
Kevin Wambua has selected a mixture of youth and experience for the 2024 Olympic qualifiers and believes he has enough quality to beat fancied South Africa
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)