Top-flight status in sight: Shujaa poised for Division I qualification in France

Kenya Sevens are now closer than ever to qualifying for World Rugby Division I in 2026/27, having finished eighth after reaching the Cup quarter-final in the second leg in Valladolid, Spain, on Sunday.

Shujaa only need reach the quarter-finals in Bordeaux to return to the world's top-flight sevens series after one season in Division II.

The top eight teams after the Bordeaux leg will qualify for Division I, while the bottom four will drop to Division II.

Kenya will be hoping to exert revenge on championship leaders South Africa, who they will be meeting for the third time in a row in Bordeaux, in Pool A, alongside Fiji and Great Britain.

Currently in eighth place with 14 points, the team collected six points in Valladolid, adding to the eight they earned in seventh place at the Hong Kong Sevens.

Kenya and France, who beat them 14–5 in the final for seventh place in Valladolid, both have 14 points, but the French have a better aggregate score.

France, who finished eighth in Hong Kong, took seventh place from Kenya, heading into the final leg where the two countries are almost assured of a place in the 2026 World Rugby Sevens Division I, unless something drastic happens in France. This is because their next opponents — Uruguay, who are in ninth place with six points, followed by Germany (5), the United States of America (5), and Great Britain — must reach at least the semi-finals in France.

No relenting 

This would give Shujaa or France the opportunity to finish last in Bordeaux. However, this is a fairly unlikely scenario, given the teams' performances in Hong Kong and Valladolid, where the top teams are not showing any signs of relenting.

South Africa won in Hong Kong and finished second in Valladolid, topping the table with 38 points, followed by Argentina (34) and Australia (30). Fiji, Spain and New Zealand are next with 26 points each.

Amonde, Shujaa’s strength and conditioning coach, called on the team to finish the job in Bordeaux.

“The boys know what is at stake, as the whole nation is looking to them to deliver,” said Amonde. “Qualification will mean a lot to this young team.”

He added that qualifying would help his players to grow in the game and secure a permanent place in the World Rugby Sevens Division I.

South Africa were pushed to the limit in the quarter-finals of the opening leg in Hong Kong, eventually beating Kenya 26-22, before winning 14-0 in the pool stage in Valladolid. “It’s all about the mental side of the game. We just need to contest for every ball and score from every opportunity,” said Amonde.

There will be a lot at stake when Kenya takes on Great Britain, after Shujaa edged them out 12-7 in Pool A in Valladolid. Shujaa will face Fiji for the first time in the Championship.

Amonde will be without Strathmore University Leos back Nygel Amaitsa, who was injured in Spain. Efforts are being made to fly Kabras Sugar Rugby Club playmaker Jackson Siketi out to replace him.

Both Kenya Sevens and Kenya Lionesses could have qualified for their respective 2025/2026 World Rugby Sevens Series but World Rugby changed the format ahead of the final leg in Los Angeles last year, replacing the series with Division I, Division II and Division III owing to financial constraints.

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