Kenya Lionesses set World Sevens Series target
Kenya's Judith Okumu in action against Madagascar at the Africa Women's Sevens in Accra, Ghana on November 9, 2024. Kenya qualified for the World Rugby Challenger Series.
What you need to know:
- In the final, Kenya led twice through unconverted tries from Wafula and Sharon Auma, but were undone with tries from Felicia Jacobs (two) and Ayanda Malinga.
- It was the seventh time Kenya and South Africa met in the final. Kenya defeated Mauritius 61-0, Ghana 10-5, and Madagascar 22-19 in Pool “B” matches on the first day on November 9.
Kenya Lionesses are eyeing an improved performance in the 2025 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series after qualifying alongside South Africa and Uganda at the 2024 Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens at the University of Ghana in Accra on Sunday.
The Challenger Series serves as a qualifying event for the World Rugby Sevens Series. Kenya Lionesses finished the 2024 Challenger Series held in Dubai (UAE), Montevideo (Uruguay), and Krakow (Poland) in fifth place behind China, Argentina, Belgium, and Poland to miss the grand finale in Madrid, Spain.
The top four sides from the Challenger Series meet with the bottom four from the World Sevens Series to decide who gains core status in the next edition of the World Sevens Series.
The three African countries join Hong Kong and Thailand from Asia, Argentina and Colombia (South America), Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic (Europe). One team from Rugby Americas Sevens scheduled for November 23-24 in Trinidad and Tobago and one team from Oceania Rugby Sevens slated for December 7-8 will also qualify for the 2025 Challenger Series.
The Lionesses set the target of clinching one of the three Challenger Series tickets on offer from the continental event, and they achieved that by defeating Uganda 19-0 in the semi-final, with tries from Judith Okumu, Christabel Lindo, and Grace Okulu.
Coach Dennis Mwanja’s side also hoped to dethrone South Africa but settled for a silver medal after losing 19-10 in the final.
“We really needed the ticket that is why we worked even harder on the second day. Against South Africa in the final, it wasn't easy. We lost, but they also felt us. It was tough for them too. We are going to meet them in the Challenger Series. It won't be the same when we face each other again. We will make sure we beat them,” noted Okumu.
Against Uganda, Kenya, the 2018 African champions, showed intent from the word go, taking the lead after winning a scrum inside Uganda’s five-metre box with former captain Okumu scoring under the sticks the converted try.
Kenya’s chances were boosted just before half-time when Uganda was reduced to six players after Nasozi Maimuna was sent to the sin-bin, but the Ugandans defended well.
However, Mwanja’s charges put more daylight between them and Uganda through a well-worked try from Lindo for 12-0.
Okulu added more pain on the Lady Cranes after bursting through their defence off a pass from Sinaida Mokaya to score under the sticks for 19-0 after a successful conversion.
In the final, Kenya led twice through unconverted tries from Wafula and Sharon Auma, but were undone with tries from Felicia Jacobs (two) and Ayanda Malinga.
It was the seventh time Kenya and South Africa met in the final. Kenya defeated Mauritius 61-0, Ghana 10-5, and Madagascar 22-19 in Pool “B” matches on the first day on November 9.
