Shujaa Still in the Danger Zone Ahead of Los Angeles 7s

Shujaa players in action at the Sydney 7s held in Australia in January 2023.
Shujaa players in action at the Sydney 7s held in Australia in January 2023.
PHOTO:
Courtesy
KRU / Twitter

The Kenya national sevens team, Shujaa, is still in the danger zone ahead of the Los Angeles 7s leg scheduled to take place between Saturday, February 25, and Sunday, February 26, 2023. 

Shujaa picked up two vital wins at the just concluded Sydney 7s, beating Spain and Uruguay to climb to the 12th position on the 2023 World Rugby 7s standings with 21 points.

This left them three points behind Uruguay, which is among the 15 core teams that are expected to grace all the legs of the HSBC sevens series.

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“Shujaa closed out the Sydney 7s in 11th place after exiting the tournament with a 26-24 defeat to Tonga in the 9th place semifinal.

“Following the latest rounds of action in Hamilton and Sydney, Shujaa has moved up two places to 12th on the World Rugby Sevens Series log with 21 points,” read part of the statement from the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU). 

However, despite the notable improvement, Shujaa is at the peril of missing out on next season's tournament.

According to the World Rugby rules, the bottom-placed team among the 15 core nations would be automatically relegated.

Moreover, the teams which will finish 14th, 13th, and 12th by the end of the 10th leg would enter into the relegation play-offs to fight for their survival.

Shujaa risk taking part in the relegation playoffs if the squad does not better its performances in the remaining six HSBC series legs.

In Los Angeles, Shujaa will battle it out with 2022 world champions Australia, Fiji, and Asian representatives Japan in Pool C.

Kenya’s continental rival South Africa has been pooled alongside Ireland, Canada, and Uruguay in Pool B.

Also Read: Shujaa Registers First Win in Sydney 7s