USA End Shujaa’s Winning Streak

Kenya’s national sevens teams experienced a mixed outing at the Nairobi leg of the HSBC SVNS Division II, as Shujaa’s unbeaten run was halted by the USA while the Lionesses endured a difficult campaign. Germany and Argentina ultimately emerged as the standout sides in the Kenyan capital, claiming top honours in their respective competitions.

The biggest moment of the tournament for the home fans came when the USA Eagles stunned Kenya national rugby sevens team 21-5 in a decisive pool clash at Nyayo National Stadium. The defeat marked Shujaa’s first loss of the campaign and brought their impressive run to an abrupt end.

Both sides had entered day two with strong momentum. Kenya had earlier secured a solid 17-7 victory over Uruguay, stretching their winning streak to four matches in the opening leg of the 2026 season. The Americans, despite suffering a heavy 28-7 defeat to Germany earlier in the competition, remained firmly in contention and determined to finish strongly.

From the opening whistle, the Eagles showed greater urgency and precision. A well-weighted kick ahead split the Kenyan defensive line in the first half, creating the breakthrough opportunity. Lucas Lacamp reacted quickest, gathering the bouncing ball to score the opening try before calmly converting to hand the visitors a 7-0 advantage at halftime.

Shujaa struggled to build momentum throughout the encounter. Handling mistakes and misplaced passes at crucial moments repeatedly stalled promising attacks, denying the hosts the chance to apply sustained pressure. The Americans, in contrast, maintained structure and discipline in both attack and defence.

Early in the second half, USA forward Aaron Cummings powered over for another converted try, stretching the lead to 14-0. With Lacamp again adding the extras, Kenya found themselves chasing the game with limited time to recover.

The Eagles continued to dictate the tempo, and substitute Adam Channel sealed the result with a third converted try. At 21-0, the contest was effectively out of reach for the hosts.

Kenyan captain George Ooro eventually gave the home crowd something to celebrate with a late try down the right wing, ensuring Shujaa avoided a shutout. However, the 21-5 result remained unchanged at the final whistle.

The defeat left Kenya tied with the USA on 12 points in the standings, but the Americans progressed ahead thanks to a superior points difference of 73 compared to Kenya’s 65.

Strong Response Against Uruguay

Earlier in the day, Shujaa had demonstrated why they were considered promotion contenders with a composed 17-7 victory over Uruguay. The performance showcased their attacking sharpness and defensive resilience.

Tries from John Okoth, George Ooro, and co-captain Samuel Asati ensured Kenya maintained their perfect pool record at that stage. The hosts controlled possession for long spells and dictated the rhythm of the match, keeping Uruguay under constant pressure.

Defensively, Shujaa remained organised and disciplined. Whenever Uruguay threatened to build phases, Kenya’s structured line speed and tackling discipline disrupted their momentum. The win reinforced the team’s ambition to secure promotion despite the later setback against the USA.

Lionesses Face Tough Campaign

It was a challenging tournament for the Kenya women’s national rugby sevens team, who struggled to find consistency across their fixtures.

In their final outing, Kenya started brightly against Spain. Freshia Oduor crossed the line just two minutes into the match, raising hopes of a strong finish. However, Spain responded swiftly. Abril Camacho Ruiz and Denisse Gortazar each scored in quick succession before converted tries from Silvia Morales and Carmen Miranda Miralles widened the gap.

Despite taking the early lead, the Lionesses were unable to maintain their defensive structure and eventually fell behind decisively.

Their lone victory came in dramatic fashion against Brazil on the opening day. After trailing 12-0, Kenya mounted an impressive comeback. Stella Wafula ignited the turnaround before Janet Okelo and Naomi Amuguni added further tries in quick succession. The spirited fightback secured a morale-boosting win and highlighted the team’s potential when playing with confidence and urgency.

Narrow Loss to Eventual Champions Argentina

The Lionesses’ campaign began with a narrow 5-0 defeat to Argentina women’s national rugby sevens team, who went on to lift the trophy in Nairobi. The low-scoring encounter was defined by defensive intensity and tactical discipline from both sides.

Kenya maintained a compact defensive line and contested aggressively at the breakdown, forcing Argentina into multiple phases while limiting clear scoring opportunities. The home crowd at Nyayo National Stadium provided vocal support as the Lionesses held firm for much of the contest.

The decisive moment came when Marianela Escalante identified space in the Kenyan defence and scored the only try of the match. Kenya pushed hard in the closing stages, driving deep into Argentine territory in search of an equaliser. However, Argentina’s defence held under pressure, sealing a narrow but crucial victory.

Focus Shifts to Montevideo

Despite the setbacks, both Kenyan teams will now shift their attention to the next leg of the series in Montevideo, scheduled for March 21-22. For Shujaa, the objective remains clear: regroup, sharpen execution, and continue pushing for promotion.

The Nairobi leg delivered moments of promise and lessons to absorb. While the USA ended Shujaa’s unbeaten streak and the Lionesses faced tough opposition, the experience provides valuable insight ahead of the demanding challenges still to come in the 2026 HSBC SVNS 2 campaign.