Shujaa thrown into Hong Kong 7s ‘Group of Death’ on World Championship return
Rugby Union - Sevens World Cup - Day One - Hong Kong - March 31, 2023 New Zealand's Leroy Carter in action with Kenya's Herman Humwa REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
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Kenya’s national sevens side, Shujaa, will face a stern test of their resurgence after being drawn into a daunting Pool C for the 2026 HSBC SVNS World Championship set for April 17–19 in Hong Kong.
The tournament, featuring 12 teams split into three pools, marks the grand finale of the global sevens season, bringing together the top eight elite sides and four qualifiers from the second-tier circuit.
For Shujaa, this is more than just another tournament, it is a high-stakes audition for a permanent return to rugby’s top table.
Pool C reads like a gauntlet: Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. Two established giants and one familiar foe standing between Kenya and a statement return to elite status.
Shujaa booked their place in this championship after finishing second overall in the SVNS 2 series, sealing promotion during the São Paulo leg on March 29.
Their late surge, winning four of their last five matches, has injected belief into a squad that now steps onto a much bigger stage.
Australia, ranked third in the elite standings, arrive as one of the most consistent sides this season. However, Shujaa have shown they can compete, holding them to a 19-19 draw in Dubai and edging them 12-10 in Perth.
New Zealand, fourth in the standings, remain a formidable force despite mixed results, having beaten Kenya twice in Perth.
Then there is the USA, a rival Shujaa know all too well.
The Americans topped the SVNS 2 standings, but Kenya delivered a timely statement with a dominant 31-14 win in São Paulo, hinting at a tactical breakthrough ahead of Hong Kong.
The championship series, which continues in Valladolid and Bordeaux, will ultimately determine the core teams for the 2027 SVNS season.
The tournament, featuring 12 teams split into three pools, marks the grand finale of the global sevens season, bringing together the top eight elite sides and four qualifiers from the second-tier circuit.
For Shujaa, this is more than just another tournament, it is a high-stakes audition for a permanent return to rugby’s top table.
Pool C reads like a gauntlet: Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. Two established giants and one familiar foe standing between Kenya and a statement return to elite status.
Shujaa booked their place in this championship after finishing second overall in the SVNS 2 series, sealing promotion during the São Paulo leg on March 29.
Their late surge, winning four of their last five matches, has injected belief into a squad that now steps onto a much bigger stage.
Australia, ranked third in the elite standings, arrive as one of the most consistent sides this season. However, Shujaa have shown they can compete, holding them to a 19-19 draw in Dubai and edging them 12-10 in Perth.
New Zealand, fourth in the standings, remain a formidable force despite mixed results, having beaten Kenya twice in Perth.
Then there is the USA, a rival Shujaa know all too well.
The Americans topped the SVNS 2 standings, but Kenya delivered a timely statement with a dominant 31-14 win in São Paulo, hinting at a tactical breakthrough ahead of Hong Kong.
The championship series, which continues in Valladolid and Bordeaux, will ultimately determine the core teams for the 2027 SVNS season.
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