McGrath confident Shujaa’s luck will change as relegation scare looms large

Shujaa head coach Damian McGrath is confident that the men’s national rugby 7s team will be able to overcome the rough patch they are currently enduring after a dismal showing in the Los Angeles 7s that took place from 25-26 February.

In that sixth outing of the eleven tournaments scheduled in the 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, the team finished in last place despite having a promising start when they defeated overall defending champions Australia in their opening group game.

However, defeats against Fiji and lowly ranked Japan in the two remaining group stage matches would come at a cost for the national team as they were denied a chance of making the main cup quarterfinal for the first time this season which would have brought healthy point returns for the team fighting to avoid relegation this season.

Despite the poor showing, McGrath backed the side, who ended up slipping from twelfth place to thirteenth on the log, to turn around their fortunes in the subsequent tournaments.

“We were beset with flu with three players struggling. I was proud of their efforts because it was one of those tournaments where we had a lot of possession but could not convert it into points.

“Our luck will change because the performances are very good just that the crucial things are not going our way. It is a strange thing to say when you finish bottom of the pile but our performances reflect a much better game,” the coach said after the tourney.

Shujaa have a chance of redeeming themselves this weekend as the Vancouver 7s takes place from 3-5 March.

The team have been drawn against double Olympic champions Fiji, Great Britain, and Uruguay in the seventh outing.

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Group A – New Zealand, Samoa, Spain, USA

Group B – Argentina, South Africa, France, Japan

Group C – Fiji, Great Britain, Kenya, Uruguay

Group D – Australia, Ireland, Canada, Chile