Shujaa Relegated from HSBC SVNS Division One After Heartbreaking One-Point Miss in Bordeaux
Despite a spirited performance and a convincing victory over Uruguay, Kenya’s fate was sealed by a dramatic USA comeback against Fiji, leaving the national sevens side to compete in Division Two next season.
By Ogolla Geene
Kenya’s national rugby sevens team, Shujaa, suffered a painful setback at the final leg of the HSBC SVNS World Championship Series in Bordeaux, France, after missing automatic survival in the top-tier competition by a single point.
The outcome means Shujaa will compete in HSBC SVNS Division Two during the 2026/27 season despite a spirited campaign marked by determination, growth and resilience under head coach Kevin Wambua.
Tough Draw in Bordeaux
Heading into the tournament, Kenya occupied eighth place in the standings with 14 points and needed a strong performance to secure their place in the elite division.
However, Shujaa were handed one of the toughest assignments of the competition after being drawn in Pool A alongside rugby sevens powerhouses Fiji, South Africa and Great Britain.
Kenya opened their campaign with a 31-12 defeat to Fiji. Tries from Patrick Odongo and Kevin Wekesa had kept the contest level at 12-12 before Fiji capitalised on defensive lapses to pull away late in the match.
The team then fell 26-5 to South Africa, whose defensive discipline and dominance in possession limited Kenya’s attacking opportunities.
In their final group match, Shujaa lost 14-5 to Great Britain after conceding an early advantage. Odongo scored a late consolation try, but Kenya could not recover from a difficult first half.
Hopes Rest on Play-Off Results
With qualification for the Main Cup no longer possible, Kenya’s focus shifted to securing enough ranking points to retain their Division One status.
The situation became more complicated after Shujaa suffered a narrow 7-5 loss to Germany in the ninth-place semifinal, leaving their fate dependent on other results.
Despite the disappointment, the Kenyan side responded strongly by defeating Uruguay 26-7 in the 11th-place playoff. Tries from Vincent Onyala, John Okoth, David Nyangige and Brian Tanga helped the team finish the tournament on a positive note.
“The players showed tremendous character and resilience despite the setbacks. They never stopped fighting,” a member of the technical bench said after the match.
USA Comeback Seals Kenya’s Fate
After completing their fixtures, Kenya’s survival hopes rested on the outcome of the fifth-place playoff between Fiji and the United States.
The equation was straightforward: a Fiji victory would secure Kenya’s place in Division One, while a win for the USA would see Shujaa relegated.
At halftime, Kenya appeared destined to survive as Fiji established a comfortable 14-0 lead through a dominant display.
However, the Americans mounted a dramatic second-half comeback, scoring 17 unanswered points to secure a 17-14 victory.
The result lifted the USA above Kenya in the standings and condemned Shujaa to relegation by the narrowest of margins.
“It is heartbreaking to miss out by just one point, but that is the nature of sevens rugby where every point and every result matters,” rugby analysts noted following the tournament.
Focus Turns to the Future
Although relegation marks a disappointing end to the season, Kenya’s performances throughout the campaign highlighted the progress made by a youthful squad undergoing a major rebuilding process.
Under Kevin Wambua, Shujaa demonstrated their ability to compete against some of the world’s best teams while developing a new generation of talent.
“This team has shown immense growth and character throughout the season. The journey back will be challenging, but the foundations for future success are already in place,” a team official said.
Shujaa will now shift their attention to the HSBC SVNS Division Two circuit, where they will seek an immediate return to the top tier.
While the Bordeaux disappointment will linger, Kenya’s rugby faithful remain hopeful that the team has the talent, determination and experience needed to bounce back stronger and reclaim its place among the world’s elite sevens nations.
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