S. OchiengDebutant Amon Wamalwa bags brace as Shujaa book precious ticket to 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens
Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 24.04.22. | 18:37
Kenya will make their sixth Rugby World Cup 7s appearance after 2001, 2005, 2009,2013 and 2018.
After moments of anxious torture and painstaking blood pressure, youngster Amon Wamalwa rose to the moment as he bagged two crucial tries that helped the men’s national rugby 7s team, Shujaa, book their ticket to the prestigious 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens that is going to be played in South Africa later in September.
Just under one year ago, in August 2021, Wamalwa, who was making his debut in the national senior setup in the Africa 7s Cup, had needed corrective surgery for a heart problem.
But on Sunday evening, his brace helped Shujaa see off Zambia 19-12 in do or die 3/4th place playoff match staged at the Kyadondo Grounds in Kampala, Uganda.
I am so happy for Amon Wamalwa who scored 2/3 tries that sent Shujaa through to the World Cup Sevens.
— Ochi (@soo_ochieng) April 24, 2022
In August 2021, he had heart issues that needed corrective surgery and 8 months later, he sends Kenya to the WC on his debut to the national side!
What a story👏 #Kenya7s pic.twitter.com/KVtMTSm0J7
A nervy Shujaa, who had come into the match after back to back losses against Madagascar and Uganda, raced into an early 12-0 lead after Augustine Lugonzo dived under the post for the team’s first try after quickly taking a penalty awarded to Kenya inside the 22m line, Tony Omondi converting to put the team 7-0 up at the half time break.
Upon the second half’s resumption, Wamalwa bagged his first try of the game that extended Kenya’s lead to 12-0 following a missed conversion when he left the Zambian defenders for dead with a devilish dummy that created space ahead for him which he gladly took.
Amon Wamalwa in action for Kenya Chipu © ArigiAbiero/KRUFaced with the thought of crashing in their own bid, the Zambians created a nervous end to the game as they scored two tries themselves, one converted and one missed, to tie the game at 12-12.
With less than two minutes to go, clever support play by Wamalwa enabled Shujaa to retake the lead as he was on hand to finish off a superb Bush Mwale line break that ended with Omondi successfully converting to seal the 19-12 win.
With the victory, Kenya, who could not defend the crown they won in the last edition in 2019, finished in third place.
Kenya have qualified for a sixth consecutive Rugby World Cup 7s after beating Zambia 19-12 in the third place playoff at the #RugbyAfrica7sUg in Kampala, Uganda on 24 April 2022.
— Kenya Rugby (@OfficialKRU) April 24, 2022
Kenya will make their sixth Rugby World Cup 7s appearance after 2001, 2005, 2009,2013 and 2018.
Hosts Uganda, who finished in second place in 2019, won the 2022 tournament after beating Zimbabwe 28-0 in the main cup final. The two will all join Kenya in the World Cup where three tickets were up for grabs.
Zambia and Uganda also sealed tickets to the 2022 Commonwealth Games where they join the already qualified Kenya and South Africa.
