The men’s national rugby 7s side, Shujaa, succumbed to a 14-29 defeat in their opening match against New Zealand in the Perth 7s marking the third outing of the HSBC SVNS Series 2025.
Pooled in a tough pool C that also has table-topping Fiji and Uruguay, Shujaa’s hopes of making a bright start in Australia were thwarted as tries from Frank Vaenuku, Regan Ware, Andrew Knewstubb, Cody Vai and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black got the job done for the New Zealanders.
On Kenya’s side, co-captain George ‘Japolo’ Ooro and speedster Patrick Odongo touched down for the team.
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New Zealand were the first to hit the ground running with Vaenuku bouncing off some missed tackles from the Kenyan defense before touching under the posts to give his side a 0-7 lead in the first minute following some quickly taken lineout.
After some hard work, Shujaa finally managed to restore parity with Ooro making a direct run at the New Zealand defense that had left half a hole which he gladly exploited as Nygel Amaitsa made the conversion.
Kenya would however go into the break trailing as Ware scored New Zealand’s second over three minutes after the half time hooter had sounded, McGarvey-Black converting for a 7-14 score.
The Kevin Wambua-coached side once again managed to get themselves back into the game with Odongo to thank as the Daystar Falcons speedster put his pace to good use in finding the second try and his eighth of the season as Amaitsa nailed the conversion to level the ties.
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Kenya had chances to steal the lead but things just never went their way as Dennis Abukuse knocked on the ball metres from the tryline.
Those small moments would come to alter the outcome of the game as Knewstubb anf McGarvey-Black added two more tries for the All Blacks who escaped with the win.
Kenya will now face a hurting Fiji in their second match at 10:59am.
Fiji were stunned 17-24 by Uruguay in the other Pool C clash.
Shujaa results and fixtures
Kenya 14-29 New Zealand
Kenya vs Fiji – 10:59am
Kenya vs Uruguay – 7:00am (Saturday)
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