Tag: Shujaa

Shujaa relegated from World Rugby Sevens Series after 20 years

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Kenya rugby 7s team (Shujaa) has been relegated from the World Rugby Sevens Series after losing 7-12 to Canada in the playoff final of London 7s at Twickenham on Sunday 21 May 2023.

It was a nervy affair, both teams aware of what was at stake, the 12th and final slot in the reimagined series from 2024 onwards.

Shujaa started brightly, seeing more of the ball and indeed scored off a stolen ball from a Canadian lineout, Billy Odhiambo playing in captain Nelson Oyoo who turned his defenders inside out before touching down.

Tony Omondi converted to put Shujaa 7-0 ahead.

The loss of Kevin Wekesa seemed to knock the wind out of the Shujaa sails as Canada began to see more of the ball and they did score at the stroke of half time, Brock Webster converting Josiah Morra’s try to level up scores, 7-7 at the break.

The second half remained tight, either side committing themselves on defense.

Alex Russell’s late try and the ensuing penalty advantage meant Canada were in possession at full time, kicking the ball out to confirm their status for next season as Shujaa will be out of the series for the first time since attaining core status in the 2004/2005 season.

Additional reporting by Kenya Rugby Union 

Shujaa learn opponents as Hong Kong 7s draw revealed

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The Kenya men’s national sevens rugby team have been drawn in Pool D for Hong Kong 7s scheduledfor 4-6 November 2022 in Hong Kong.

Shujaa, who placed 12th at the close of the 2021/22  HSBC Sevens World Series with 49 points have been pooled with Argentina, Canada and Ireland.

Series champions Australia headline Pool A which also features their Trans Tasman neighbors New Zealand, Samoa and hosts Hong Kong while South Africa are in Pool B with France, Great Britain and Uruguay who debut on the series as a core side.

Fiji are top seeds in Pool C with USA, Spain and Japan completing the pool composition.

Hong Kong Sevens

POOL A: Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Hong Kong

POOL B: South Africa, France, Great Britain, Uruguay

POOL C: Fiji, USA, Spain, Japan

POOL D: Argentina, Ireland, Kenya, Canada

Shujaa Schedule in Hong Kong

Friday 4 November 2022: Kenya  v Ireland ( 1040 EAT)

Saturday 5 November 2022: Kenya  v Argentina ( 625EAT)

Saturday 5 November 2022: Kenya  v Canada ( 945EAT)

2022/23 HSBC Sevens World Series Calendar

Hong Kong 4-6 November 2022

Dubai 2-3 December 2022

Cape Town 9-11 December 2022

Hamilton 21-22 January 2023

Sydney 27-29 January 2023

Los Angeles 25-26 February 2023

Vancouver 3-5 March 2023

Hong Kong 31 March -2 April 2023

Singapore 8-9 April 2023

Toulouse 12-14 May 2023

London 20-21 May 2023

 

Courtesy of Kenya Rugby Union 

Shujaa beat Tonga to reach round of 16 at RWC 7s

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Kenya 7s (Shujaa) edged Tonga 19-0 to  reach the round of 16 in Rugby World Cup 7s action at the Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa on Friday.

Sammy Oliech converted tries from Willy Ambaka and Nelson Oyoo for a 14-0 lead at the interval before Vincent Onyala scored late in the second half to set up a clash against Argentina at 5.23pm this evening.

Speaking after the match, Ambaka said, “I’m coming back from injury and I’m just happy to represent the country in the World Cup.

“We executed well, got the three tries. We were also a little bit rusty. That is expected in the first game and we just hope to polish up in the next game.

On playing Argentina: “We just need to polish up and execute better because once you get to the big games it’s all about who’s going to execute well and who’s going to work well on and off the ball, both defence and attack. But we just have to take it one game at a time and execute the little things right because they’re the things that make a big difference.”

 

Kenya Rugby Union 

Shujaa rally to finish 6th at the Los Angeles 7s

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Kenya 7s (Shujaa) managed a sixth  finish at the Los Angeles 7s tournament in the United States of America on Sunday.
Edmund Anya struck at the death to seal Shujaa’s place in the Los Angeles 7s fifth place final with a 21-14 victory over hosts USA at the Dignity Health Park in Los Angeles on Sunday evening.

This match was a tight contest, the two sides going at each other for better spells of the opening half.

Indeed it was scoreless until the very last play of the opening half, Alvin Otieno receiving the ball inside the Shujaa 22 and racing clear to touch down, Daniel Taabu added the extras for a 7-0 lead at the interval.

The USA sought a response after the restart, stating their intent initially through Perry Baker who fumbled while grounding the ball before being awarded a penalty try moments later to tie up the scores after Kevin Wekesa was binned for a deliberate knock on in the in goal area.

The hosts capitalized on the extra man advantage, scoring under the posts after Baker set up Steve Tomasin to score and convert as the USA led for the first time in this match.

Shujaa, with their backs against the wall, launched a bold counter attack from their five, Taabu sprinting clear to touch down and convert, tying the scores at 14-14 before Anya stepped up to seal the result, Taabu’s conversion giving it a bit more gloss ahead of the fifth place final set for 2.31am EAT on Monday morning.

Kenya Rugby Union

Shujaa to play Australia in the Los Angeles 7s quarterfinals

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Kenya rugby 7s will play Pool A winners Australia in the cup quarterfinals of Los Angeles on Sunday evening.

Shujaa booked their last eight slot in the competition with a  20-10 victory over Scotland on Sunday morning.

The Damian McGrath’s side finished  second in Pool D at the close of pool play at the Dignity Health Park.

The Scots drew first blood through Kaleem Barreto’s unconverted try but Shujaa stayed in touch, finding themselves in possession as Billy Odhiambo and Tony Omondi combined to set up captain Nelson Oyoo for the equalizer.

It remained a topsy turvy affair, Scotland retaking the lead through Robbie Ferguson before Sammy Oliech stole down the blindside, availing the ball to Alvin Otieno who scored Shujaa’s equalizer,the teams tied 10-10 at the interval.

The opening two minutes of the second half were tense, both sides aware that a victory would guarantee them a place in the last eight.

Shujaa would run at the Scots from the middle of the park, Vincent Onyala eventually receiving the ball down the right flank, deep in the Scottish ’22. He would beat the opposing defenders with a deft step, touching down for the go ahead try before Billy Odhiambo’s 101st World Series try acted as a buffer, giving Shujaa the ten point lead that meant Scotland needed two tries and a conversion to win this game.

The Scots indeed came close but Willy Ambaka’s late intervention forced them into a knock on while grounding the ball. A further infringement moments saw them penalized, Kenya taking the ball into touch, a place in the last eight assured.

Shujaa will play their cup quarterfinal at 8.13pm on Sunday 28 August 2022.

Kenya Rugby Union 

Samuel Oliech back as McGrath names Shujaa squad for Los Angeles 7s

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Fullback Samuel Oliech is back in the fold as Kenya Men’s Sevens Head Coach Damian McGrath names Shujaa squad that will do duty at the Los Angeles 7s on 27-28 August.

McGrath has made two changes to his charges as the team heads to Los Angeles for the World Series season ender.

Jeff Oluoch and Samuel Oliech return to the Shujaa squad, replacing Levi Amunga and Herman Humwa who were part of the squad’s last outing – the Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens competition in Birmingham three weeks ago.

“The side for L.A was selected mainly on the contracted players, I’ve made two changes from the Commonwealth Games team simply to have a look at other players, so Sammy Oliech and Jeff Oluoch will come in. It’s not a reflection on the guys who have been left out…it’s just a chance for me to look at them because we are looking to change the senior squad group to bring in some younger players from the National Sevens Circuit,”  McGrath told KRU Media.

Shujaa are in Pool D and being their campaign in North America against Samoa on Saturday 27 August at 8.26pm EAT.

This will be followed by a fixture against England at 11.10pm the same day before rounding off pool play against Scotland at 2.21am on Sunday morning.

Sharing his thoughts on the fixtures, McGrath said, “We are in a fairly tough pool in L.A, Samoa are the leading team in our group. They’ve been playing very very well this year…been based in Dubai since Christmas training, playing and preparing as a team…so they’ll offer a tough assignment for the first game.  We then play England and Scotland who despite having a young team always have a wide pool of players to choose from, so they’ll offer a different challenge. Scotland beat us narrowly in the Commonwealth Games and whist we are not going there expecting to turn everybody over, we are very confident that we can put in some good performances.”

Shujaa squad for Los Angeles

Nelson Oyoo (Nakuru, captain), Daniel Taabu (Mwamba), Bush Mwale(Homeboyz), Alvin Otieno(KCB), Vincent Onyala(KCB), Billy Odhiambo(Mwamba), Jeff Oluoch(Homeboyz), Anthony Omondi(Mwamba), Samuel Oliech(Impala Saracens), Johnstone Olindi(KCB), Edmund Anya(Impala Saracens), William Ambaka(Narvskaya Zastava), Kevin Wekesa (Kabras Sugar)

Shujaa Schedule in Los Angeles

All times EAT

Saturday 27 August 2022

Kenya v Samoa,8.26pm

Kenya v England,11.10pm

Sunday 28 August

Kenya v Scotland,2.21am

 

Courtesy of the Kenya Rugby Union

We fell short of target – Oyoo explains New Zealand’s beating

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Kenya 7s captain Nelson Oyoo has pointed out lack of  focus as the reason the team lost in the cup quarter-finals at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday.

Shujaa went down 31-0 to New Zealand after successfully edging Uganda and Jamaica to finish second in pool D of the competitions.

However, the sides goal of going all the way to the podium hit a snag in the hands of the All Blacks in the quarters, getting demoted to the 5th place semifinal.

“We came in aiming for the medal but undoubtedly we went short of our target. We pick it up from tomorrow. We have positions to fight for, so we take the positives and then we move. We can’t take away the efforts from the boys,” he said.

“I think we started well, at some point we lost structure and we fell short somewhere and the breakdowns. So I think it is something that for now we know where we are, our benchmarks and we pick it up from tomorrow.”

On his side, head coach Damian McGrath said;

“We ended the game badly but for 6 weeks work it was not a bad effort. We ran out of our steam in the end. We had a very physical game this morning and a very physical first half. But tries either sides of the half took the game away from us and composure.”

Kenya will play Scotland in the 5th place semifinal on Sunday.

Shujaa sails through to Rugby quarterfinals at the Commonwealth

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Kenya 7s national rugby team has booked a place in the quarterfinals at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Shujaa finished second in Pool D action, going down 7-5 to pool winners Australia at the Coventry Stadium on Saturday 30 July 2022.

It was a close match between the two sides, Alvin Otieno eventually putting Shujaa ahead with an converted try for a 5-0 lead at the break.

And it remained a slug fest after the restart, Australia eventually drawing level through Corey Toole before Dietrich Roach converted to give the Aussies the lead as Shujaa desperately sought to win the match, the full time whistle soon sounding.

Both teams are through to the quarterfinal stage and remain in medal contention.

Shujaa will face New Zealand at 11.10pm EAT.

 

(KRU)

Shujaa trash Jamaica to stay in Commonwealth medal contention

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Kenya 7s (Shujaa) registered a second successive win to stay in medal contention in the rugby sevens competition at the Commonwealth Games with a comprehensive 45-0 victory over Jamaica in Pool D action at the Coventry Stadium on Friday 29 July 2022.

Nelson Oyoo scored a long range, unconverted try to see Shujaa go 5-0 up before Nelson Onyala, Daniel Taabu and Willy Ambaka landed in quick succession with Johnstone Olindi converting two for a 24-0 lead at the break.

Kevin Wekesa powered his way for a converted try that put Shujaa 31-0 up with further converted tries from Bush Mwale and Alvin Otieno sealing the result.

Up next is a clash against Australia at 12.50pm EAT on Saturday 30 July 2022.

 

(KRU)

Rugby: Kenya silences African champions in Commonwealth Games opener

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Kenya men’s rugby team (Shujaa)  began their Commonwealth Games rugby sevens campaign with a 27-14 victory over African champions Uganda.

Tries from Johnstone Olindi, Herman Humwa and Billy Odhiambo alongside Olindi’s sole conversion gave Shujaa a 17-0 lead before Timothy Kasiga’s converted try cut the scores to 17-7 at the break.

Philip Wokorach would then score and convert his own try after the restart for a 17-14 score before Olindi and Kevin Wekesa landed second half tries to give Shujaa the result.

Up next is a clash against Jamaica at 8.58pm East African Time.

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