)
Kenya could not secure the much-needed wins to get closer to safety and will need an inspired performance in Toulouse to retain their core status
Kenya Sevens collected seven points from the ninth leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series in Singapore following a 10th place finish on Sunday.
Shujaa succumbed 26-10 to Spain in the ninth-place final to end the weekend in disappointing fashion with the seven points not enough to take them closer to where they need to be on the table to avoid relegation.
Damian McGrath’s men needed to collect at least 13 points in Singapore and also ensure they had more on the board than Spain to be able to inch closer to 11th position but are now left on 37, 11 behind the European country, who occupy the final cut-off place, heading into the penultimate round in Toulouse.
Two unconverted tries for Kenya were not enough to bring down Spain who raced to a 14-5 lead at the break before completing the job in the second stanza. The only positive for Shujaa was that Alvin Otieno, popularly known as Buffa’ reached a milestone after touching down his 50th career try during the defeat.
Shujaa had started the day with a 28-14 win over Canada in the ninth-place quarter-final with tries from George Ooro, Brian Tanga, Kevin Wekesa and Edmund Anya which were converted by Daniel Taabu and Tony Omondi before setting up a semi-final meeting with Japan where they won 40-7.
Kenya had a poor group campaign that started with a 26-19 defeat to France on Saturday followed by a 21-19 loss at the hands of USA before ending the day with a 33-17 reverse to Uruguay.
With the top 11 teams at the end of the next leg in Toulouse securing their top flight status for next season, it is hard to see how Kenya will dislodge Spain as it will mean reaching at least the semi-final, while hoping the Europeans do not get more than three points on board, for them to be safe.
Shujaa are, therefore, left staring at the more grueling playoff that will involve the teams that finish in 12, 13 and 14th position plus the Challenger Series 2023 winners, a round robin tournament, where only one slot it at stake to join next season’s World Series.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)