The men’s national rugby 7s team, Shujaa, will kick off their Hong Kong 7s campaign against Spain on March 28, before facing Great Britain in their second match and concluding their Pool C fixtures against France on March 29.
Marking the fifth leg of the 2025 HSBC SVNS Series, Shujaa’s opening match against Spain is scheduled for 6:39 AM EAT, followed by a clash with Great Britain at 9:23 AM.
Their final pool match against France will take place the next day at 5:12 AM, with all three matches being played at the Kai Tak Stadium.
While the group may seem favorable to Kevin Wambua’s side, it is by no means an easy task.
Shujaa will be looking to avenge their defeat against Spain, whom they met in the second round of the series in Cape Town, South Africa.
In Pool B, Spain edged them out with a 14-7 victory, which resulted in Kenya missing a spot in the semifinals.
Additionally, Spain has been in strong form, securing a semifinal berth in all four previous rounds, making them a formidable force in the group.
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The same can be said for their upcoming match against Great Britain, whom they faced in the fourth round in Vancouver last month.
Shujaa lost 28-10 in the final Pool A match, so they will need to learn from their previous mistakes and bounce back.
The national team will also seek to exact revenge on France, who they met in both the Dubai and Vancouver 7s during the pool stages where they suffered losses of 24-19 and 33-7, respectively.
France are in strong form and will be eyeing their third final in Hong Kong after securing spots in 2019 and 2024.
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Shujaa’s best achievement in Hong Kong
Kenya’s best performance in Hong Kong came in 2018 when they reached the final, but lost to Fiji 24-12. This historic achievement could boost their morale heading into the tournament.
In addition to seeking retribution, the national team will aim to earn crucial points to secure a favorable position in the overall standings, avoiding the relegation zone.
Currently, they are in ninth place with 15 points, trailing Great Britain, who are in eighth place with 32 points.
With only three stages left – Hong Kong, Singapore, and Los Angeles, Shujaa must perform well and accumulate points for survival.
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Hong Kong 7s Pools
MEN’S POOL
Pool A: Argentina, Fiji, Ireland, USA
Pool B: South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay
Pool C: Spain, France, Great Britain, Kenya
WOMEN’S POOL
Pool A: New Zealand, Brazil, China, USA
Pool B: Fiji, France, Great Britain, Ireland
Pool C: Australia, Canada, Japan, Spain
Shujaa’s Performances in HSBC SVNS Series 2025
Dubai 7s – 10th (3 points)
Cape Town 7s – 7th (8 points)
Perth 7s – 10th (3 points)
Vancouver 7s – 12th (1 point)
Upcoming Events
- Hong Kong 7s – March 28-30
- Singapore 7s – April 5-6
- Los Angeles 7s – May 3-4