Patrick Odongo and Nygel Amaitsa were particularly monsterous as Shujaa consolidated a 32-17 win to finish seventh in the second leg of the 2024/25 World Rugby Sevens Series.
Kenya national men’s Sevens team, Shujaa, capped off the second leg of the 2024/25 HSBC Sevens Series with an emphatic 32-17 win over Great Britain at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
The victory, fueled by stellar performances from Nygel Amaitsa and Patrick Odongo, secured a seventh-place finish for Kenya, closing their year on a high note.
Shujaa wasted no time asserting their dominance, opening the scoring with a well-converted try. Patrick Odongo then took center stage, crossing the line twice in quick succession to give Kenya a commanding 17-0 lead, although the conversions fell short. Co-captain Samuel Asati added another try, pushing the scoreline to 22-0 and seemingly putting Kenya in the driver’s seat.
13:30 - 08.12.2024
Cape Town 7s: Spirited Shujaa miss out on chance to finish fifth as Argentina edge them out
Shujaa will now be facing New Zealand to stand a chance of finishing seventh.
Great Britain, however, refused to go down without a fight. They rallied with three tries, converting one to narrow the gap to 22-17. With momentum shifting, Shujaa found themselves under intense pressure, needing a decisive response to regain control.
Enter Nygel Amaitsa. The Strathmore Leos standout delivered two crucial tries in the closing stages to halt Great Britain’s resurgence. Though the conversions didn’t find their mark, Amaitsa’s efforts proved decisive, ensuring a 32-17 victory for Kenya.
The Cape Town performance marked a steady improvement for Shujaa, who had earlier fallen 26-14 to defending champions Argentina in a bid for fifth place. Despite finishing seventh in this leg, Kenya remains tenth in the overall HSBC Sevens Series standings.
06:45 - 05.12.2024
Brayan Ondego: The patience and determination behind Kenya 7s’ Rising Star
Ondego is the first ever player to have earned a call up to the Kenya National 7s side Shujaa for the World Rugby Series from varsity side Zetech Oaks.
As the series moves to Perth, Australia, in January 2025, Shujaa will aim to build on their strong attacking displays while tightening up defensively. With their sights set on breaking into the top eight overall, the team will look to carry their Cape Town momentum forward and deliver even better results in the new year.
Kenya’s resilience and potential remain undeniable, and their Cape Town outing is a promising step in their journey through the HSBC Sevens Series.