Kenya’s national sevens rugby team faced a disappointing 12-7 loss to Canada in the playoff final at Twickenham Stadium, London, resulting in their relegation from the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
This defeat marks the first time in two decades that the Kenyan team has lost its status as a core team in the elite sevens series.
The relegation playoff, which took place during the HSBC London 7s, was a consequence of the World Series’ decision to reduce the number of men’s teams from 16 to 12 in the upcoming season to align with the women’s competition and the Olympic field.
Japan had already been relegated after finishing in 15th place in the standings following the tournament in Toulouse, France.
The round-robin relegation playoff featured Kenya, Uruguay (ranked 12th), Canada (ranked 14th), and Tonga, the winner of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.
Kenya managed to reach the playoff final by a narrow margin on points difference despite a 14-10 loss against Uruguay.
In the final, the match started nervously for both teams, but Kenya’s captain, Nelson Oyoo, scored the first try after some excellent play by Billy Odhiambo. Tony Omondi converted, giving Kenya a 7-0 lead.
However, tragedy struck as Kenya’s Kevin Wekesa suffered an injury, resulting in Canada gaining more possession and control of the game.
Canada managed to score their first try through Josiah Morra, with Brock Webster converting to level the score 7-7 at halftime.
The second half saw both teams engaged in a fierce battle to find a winner. Kenya faced further setbacks when John Okeyo was sent to the sin bin for two minutes.
Taking advantage of the numerical advantage, Canada’s Alex Russell touched down for a try, securing a 12-7 lead in the dying seconds of the match.
Despite regaining possession from Canada’s restart kick, Kenya was unable to capitalize as Canada regained control and kicked the ball out, preserving their status and securing the victory.
The relegation from the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is a significant blow to Kenya’s sevens rugby program, requiring the team to regroup and work towards regaining their core team status in future seasons.v
