Shujaa name travelling squad for Challenger Series opening leg in Dubai

Kevin ‘Bling’ Wambua, head coach of the men’s national rugby 7s side has unveiled the 12-man squad that will take part in the opening leg of the 2024 Challenger Series set to take place in Dubai, UAE from 12-14 January.

In the squad, the experienced Vincent Onyala and Tony Omondi have been retained as the co-captains to lead the team with the other ten members forming the regular playing unit.

The fleet-footed Brian Tanga and Nygel Amaitsa have all made the squad alongside the fast-rising Patrick Odongo who played an instrumental part in securing Shujaa’s ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Other regulars such as Kevin Wekesa, John koth and George ‘Japolo’ Ooro have also been included in the travelling party.

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Shujaa have been handed a tough start and will have an East African derby to contend with after being drawn against perennial rivals Uganda, Germany and Mexico in Pool C of the tournament

Kenya, Uganda and Germany will not be strangers to each other, having recently played in the same event during the 2023 Safari 7s held in Nairobi in November.

Kenya beat Uganda 17-5 in the Pool matches on Day One before beating Germany 19-5 in the main cup semis on their way to lifting the title. Uganda on the other hand got the better of Germany 31-7 in the Bronze Medal match.

Pool A will see Uruguay facing Hong Kong China, Papua New Guinea and Georgia with Pool B featuring Japan, Tonga, Chile and Portugal.

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In the women’s category, the women’s national side, Kenya Lionesses, who are also seeking to gain promotion have been paired in Pool B alongside China, Czechia and Mexico.

Pool A has Belgium, Thailand, Papua New Guinea and Uganda while Pool C has Poland, Hong Kong China, Paraguay and Argentina.

The Challenger competition provides a clear promotion pathway to reach the pinnacle HSBC SVNS in 2025.

The top four placed men’s and women’s teams from the 2024 Challenger, based on cumulative series points at the conclusion of the third round will secure an opportunity to compete in the new high stakes relegation play-off competition at the SVNS Grand Final in Madrid on 31 May-2 June, 2024 where they will compete against the teams ranked ninth to 12th from HSBC SVNS 2024.

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Four successful nations from this Grand Final play-off will secure their place in HSBC SVNS 2025, while the other four teams will compete in their regional qualification tournaments to earn the right to compete in the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025. 

Travelling Squad

Vincent Onyala (co-captain), Tony Omondi (co-captain), Brian Tanga, Kevin Wekesa, George Ooro, John Okoth, Patrick Odongo, Samuel Asati, Nygel Amaitsa, Festus Shiasi, William Mwanji, Brian Mutugi.

Men’s pools

Pool A: Uruguay, Hong Kong China, Papua New Guinea, Georgia

Pool B: Japan, Tonga, Chile, Portugal

Pool C: Kenya, Germany, Uganda, Mexico

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Women’s pools

Pool A: Belgium, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Uganda

Pool B: China, Czechia, Mexico, Kenya

Pool C: Poland, Hong Kong China, Paraguay, Argentina