Kenya Sevens head coach outlines plans after relegation
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 07.05.25. | 15:27
Shujaa will now compete in the second-tier SVNS Division II next season
After a rollercoaster 2024/25 HSBC SVNS campaign, Kenya Sevens head coach Kevin Wambua has opened up on the team's plans following their relegation from the core series.
Shujaa will now compete in the second-tier SVNS Division II next season, with hopes of reclaiming their spot among the world’s top teams.
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The team’s campaign started with mixed results.
They finished 10th at the Dubai 7s and improved slightly to 7th at the Cape Town leg.
However, inconsistency followed with another 10th-place finish in Perth and a disappointing 12th place in Vancouver, marking their worst performance of the season.
They bounced back impressively by reaching the semifinals in Singapore before wrapping up the season in Los Angeles.
Now that the dust has settled on the season, coach Wambua admitted that it was a tough sailing, especially with the new SVNS format reducing the number of core teams.
“Our priority was to make sure that we are back in the series. We are gutted by the decision made by World Rugby, but we told the boys to focus on what they can control. The goal was to secure a place in SVNS 2, and we’ll now use that as our launchpad,” the former Mwamba RFC tactician said.
Looking ahead, Wambua emphasized the need to play as many high-level matches as possible to remain as competitive as the core HSBC SVNS teams.
“We’ll only have three tournaments while the core teams have six before we face them again. We must find more satellite tournaments so we can match the same level of competition and stay sharp,” he continued.
With the season now concluded, the players will take a short break to recover, while the coaching staff begins planning for the next season.
“The boys need some rest, and for me, it’s time to analyze this season and get ready for what’s ahead. The turnaround is short, so preparation is key,” he said.
Despite the setback, Wambua remains focused on rebuilding and getting Shujaa back to the top. The team awaits confirmation of fixtures for the upcoming season, after which they will map out their competitive calendar.
“Once the fixtures are out, we’ll decide which tournaments to join so we can stay on par with the teams in Series One,” he concluded.
