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Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Saturday, December 7, 2024, cheered on Kenya’s Rugby team as they faced off with rivals Australia and Spain in Cape Town following a lacklustre performance in Dubai last weekend.

In a statement, Murkomen urged Shujaa, as they are fondly known, to put up a spirited fight for the top spot in the World Rugby Sevens series despite suffering losses in the initial pool draws.

“Cape Town 7s is our new slate to write victory. We have all it takes to better our record in Dubai 7s. Let’s go shujaa,” Murkomen urged.

Shujaa who currently has a paltry three points after emerging victorious over South Africa in Dubai will be seeking to battle it out with Australia at 12:00 pm and later at 3:16 pm to play against Spain.

Spain is currently in second place with 18 points while Australia is 7th placed with 8 points. Kenya is 10th placed just ahead of Ireland and the USA who have two and one points respectively.

In Pool A, Kenya was placed together with Australia, South Africa and France who were gold medal winners at the Olympics in Madrid. France has 12 points and is placed at position 5 on the table, South Africa is at position 6 with 10 points while Australia has 8.

Pool B had Argentina, who are currently third-placed with 16 points, Ireland, Great Britain and Uruguay who were recently promoted to the World Sevens Series alongside Kenya.

Pool C on the other hand had Fiji who are currently leading the table with 20 points, New Zealand who are fourth-placed with 14 points, Spain with 18 points and the USA who are at the bottom of the table.

Shujaa’s chances

Coach Kevin Wambua named Olympians Samuel Asati and George Ooro as co-captains of the team.

The tactician who guided Kenya at the Olympic competition also included Kelvin Wekesa, William Mwanji and Brian Mutua.

Olympians Chrisant Ojwang, Nygel Amaitsa and speed star Patrick Odongo were also called up to represent the country in Dubai 7s.

Amaitsa last weekend displayed a stellar performance with a touchdown against South Africa’s Blitzebokke, leading to a 22-17 result.

The Cape Town Sevens will have four pools each with three teams whose leaders will automatically qualify for the semi-finals.

In Pool A, Fiji will battle it out with Great Britain and Uruguay while Pool B has Spain, Australia and Kenya.

Pool C has Argentina, South Africa and Ireland while Pool D features New Zealand, France and the bottom-placed USA.

The events will move from Cape Town to Perth-Australia, Vancouver-Canada, Hong-Kong and Singapore before the finals which will be played in Los Angeles.