Kenya’s national sevens team (Shujaa) will be expected to give a good account of themselves when they kick off their quest to be London sevens champions come tomorrow.
However, Shujaa head Coach Damian McGrath who was officially introduced to the players ahead of the tour will have to go past among the best teams this season in the world rugby series.
Shujaa have been placed in Pool ‘B’ for the London Sevens where they face Ireland, Argentina and South Africa this weekend.
Following a dismal performance in Toulouse, where they picked up one point, Damian McGrath’s charges will open their campaign against the flying Irish.
Ireland reached the final in Toulouse before losing to Fiji.
Shujaa will, thereafter, take on Argentina who tops the overall standings before tackling a familiar rival South Africa’s Blitzbokke in their final pool match and ‘African derby’.
Fiji fresh from winning the Toulouse leg headline Pool ‘A’ alongside the USA, Spain and Wales.
In Pool ‘C’ which many regards as the pool of death France, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada fighting it out.
Pool ‘D’ will see Samoa, England, Scotland and Japan battles it out.
The top two teams in each pool will qualify for the Main Cup quarter-finals.
Shujaa won only one match in the three-day of competition in the South of France last weekend and managed to accumulate one point in the whole series.
The McGrath coached side beat Wales 19-15 and lost 29-5 to Fiji and 38-14 to France in the pool stage to drop into the classification category.
Kenya then lost to Scotland 24-12 and bowed out of the tournament with a loss to Japan 28-12 in the 13th position playoff match.
Despite poor performance in the tournament, Bush Mwale and Billy Odhiambo were among the top six ranked performers in the tournament.
Homeboyz RFC utility Mwale was ranked third behind DHL Impact Player of the tournament Terry Kennedy of Ireland who had 66 points and USA’s Kevon Williams who managed 55 points.
Mwale managed 54 points after six tackles, two-line breaks, 10 offloads, and 22 carries in the three-day tournament.
Billy Odhiambo accumulated 52 points and had five tackles, three-line breaks, six offloads and 26 carries.
He is currently ranked sixth overall on the 2022 World 7s Series Impact players list with 272 points following 52 tackles, 14-line breaks, 23 offloads, and 132 carries in this campaign.
McGrath in his first assignment will hope the team can qualify into the Main Cup quarter-finals of the two tournaments at the least as he looks to get them back to firing form.
Nakuru RFC speedy winger Nelson Oyoo will captain the youthful side.
