Shujaa claim bronze in Uruguay Challenger Series

The men’s national rugby 7s side, Shujaa, finished their Uruguay Challenger Series 2024 with the bronze medal after getting the better of Chile in the 3/4th place playoff early Monday morning.

Having missed out on a chance of making the main cup final following their 14-21 loss against Hong Kong China in the semifinals, Shujaa dropped to the match seeking to end the competition on a high.

The third-place play-off was a repeat of the Dubai final as Kenya faced the Chile team they edged to the Cup title at The Sevens Stadium in January.

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Once again, it was the Shujaa who came out on top at Estadio Charrúa as they cemented their place in the men’s Challenger Series top four with a 31-12 victory.

Kenya raced into a 19-5 half-time lead thanks to tries from Lamec Ambetsa Kokoya, Vincent Onyala and Anthony Omondi before John Okoth made sure of victory with a lung-busting break midway through the second half. Salem Adoyo and Luca Strabucchi swapped converted tries before the final whistle.

Chile will rue missed opportunities, however, not least in the moments directly after half-time when Diego Warnken knocked on when seemingly sprinting home unopposed.

The third-place finish earned Kenya sixteen points from the tournament and the team will head to Munich in May level with Uruguay at the top of the standings.

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Hosts Uruguay completed a remarkable comeback, beating Hong Kong China 28-0 in the men’s Cup final having only made it through to the quarter-finals as one of the two best third-placed finishers in the pool stage.

Victory means Los Teros Sevens have 36 points from a possible 40 following two men’s tournaments, level with Kenya at the top of the standings and crucially 10 points clear of the beaten finalists in fifth with one round left to play in Munich (18-19 May).

Chile are four points further back in third but hold a healthy six-point cushion over fifth-placed Hong Kong China in the overall men’s standings.

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Shujaa results in Uruguay

Pool A

Kenya 19-12 Portugal

Kenya 0-17 Georgia

Kenya 17-14 Tonga

Kenya 7-5 Uganda (QF)

Kenya 14-21 Hong Kong China (SF)

Kenya 31-12 Chile (3/4th place playoff)