- Kenya 7s kick off the Hong Kong 7s on Friday, April 17, with a clash against Australia at 12:56 PM EAT.
- They will then wrap up day one against New Zealand at 3:47 PM EAT before concluding the group stage on Saturday against the USA.
- The three-day World Championship tournament is being held at Kai Tak Sports Park.
Kenya 7s will kick off their quest to return to the HSBC SVSN 1 on Friday, April 17, at the first stop of the World Championship set for the Hong Kong 7s.
This three-day tournament brings together 12 elite teams in the men’s category and 12 top-tier nations in the women’s side at Kai Tak Sports Park.
Of the 12 teams, eight come from HSBC SVNS 1, while Kenya is among four sides that secured qualification through the Series 2 circuit, which had three stops in Nairobi, Montevideo, and Sao Paulo. Shujaa finished second overall, trailing table-toppers USA.
Kevin Wambua’s charges will be targeting a strong start in this opening leg of the three-part series, with Valladolid and Bordeaux also lined up. Only the top eight teams overall will punch their ticket to the HSBC SVSN 1.
Kenya 7s Hong Kong 7s preview
Shujaa have been placed in a highly competitive Pool C, where they will face two of the toughest sides from the HSBC SVNS 1.
Australia, who finished third overall, and the New Zealand All Blacks, who placed fourth with 80 points – just two behind Australia – make for formidable opponents.
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Shujaa have previously faced both New Zealand and Australia in the HSBC SVNS, giving them valuable experience.
Their last encounter with Australia was at the Dubai 7s 2024, where Australia won 31-14, though Kenya turned the tables in the Cape Town 7s pool stage with a 19-12 victory.
Against the All Blacks, their most recent meetings were in the Perth 7s, with New Zealand winning 29-14 in the pool stage and 19-12 in the ninth-place playoff.
The third team in the group is the USA Eagles 7s, familiar rivals from Series 2.
Kenya and the USA have clashed multiple times at that level, with the Americans coming out on top in Nairobi and Montevideo before Shujaa got their revenge in Sao Paulo.
Speaking to SportPesa during a training session on Tuesday, April 7, at Kasarani Stadium, coach Bling mentioned that they will be battling the world’s top 11 sides, so there’s no such thing as an easy match.
Still, they are looking to ride the momentum from their last outing in Brazil, where they finished second.
“Well, again, it’s the 12 best sevens teams in the world at the moment, so there’s no easy game throughout. It’s important for us to get a good start it gives us momentum. We’re building on the momentum from Sao Paulo, where I think we had a decent tournament. If we can build on that, we should be good,” Bling explained.
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On Friday, April 17, Kenya 7s will launch their campaign against Australia at 12:56 PM EAT, then close out day one against New Zealand at 3:47 PM EAT.
Wambua believes they have what it takes to silence Australia, their first opponent in Hong Kong. He’s confident this is a match they can win and use to make a bold statement at the Championship.
“So it’s important for us to settle early against Australia. They’re a quality side, but we’ve had our share of wins against them, just as we’ve had defeats. If we execute well in training this week and address key areas ahead of next week, it’s definitely a game we can win,” he added.
On day two, they will wrap up the pool fixtures with a showdown against the USA at 8:24 AM EAT.
The quarterfinals are scheduled for the same day, while Sunday will feature playoffs, semifinals, and the final.
Shujaa Squad for Hong Kong 7s
- Floyd Wabwire
- George Ooro
- Kevin Wekesa
- Vincent Onyala
- Denis Abukuse
- Gabriel Ayimba
- John Okoth
- Samuel Asati
- Nygel Amaitsa
- David Nyangige
- Brian Tanga
- Festus Shiasi
- Patrick Odongo
Kenya 7s Hong Kong 7s 2026 Pools
Men’s Category
- Pool A: South Africa, Argentina, Spain, Uruguay
- Pool B: Fiji, France, Great Britain, Germany
- Pool C: Australia, New Zealand, USA Eagles, Kenya
Women’s Category
- Pool A: New Zealand, Fiji, Japan, Brazil
- Pool B: Australia, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa
- Pool C: USA, France, Argentina, Spain
Kenya 7s Hong Kong 7s Schedule & Fixtures
Friday, April 17
- Shujaa vs Australia – 12:56pm EAT
- Shujaa vs New Zealand – 3:47pm EAT
Saturday, April 18
- Shujaa vs USA Eagles – 8:24am EAT
- Quarterfinal – 12:13pm – 3:28pm EAT
Sunday, April 19
- Semis / Playoffs – 5:46pm – 1:03pm EAT
- Final – 2:14pm EAT