Shujaa land in Pool D for maiden Malaga 7s

Despite the third outing of the 2021/2022 HSBC World Rugby Seven Series being played next year on 21 January 2022, the men’s 7s rugby side, Shujaa, have already known who they will face in the tournament to be held for the first time in Malaga, Spain.

This is after the pools for the Malaga 7s event were confirmed immediately after the second Dubai 7s tournament that was played over the weekend where Shujaa finished in sixth.

Shujaa finish sixth in second Dubai 7s tournament

Pooled in Group D, Kenya will fancy their chances of making it out of the group stages as they were grouped alongside France, Canada and Wales. The Innocent ‘Namcos’ Simiyu coached side also have adequate time to study their opposition and work out ways to deal with them.

For the first time in the new season, the maiden tournament is set to include all core Series teams as New Zealand and Samoa will return to the circuit following challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Great Britain will also split into the home nations of England, Scotland and Wales following the expiry of the standing agreement that allowed them to play the calendar year 2021 as a combined side, meaning competing teams will now be 16 and not 12.

Pool A will have reigning champions and current Series leaders South Africa taking on England, double Olympic champions Fiji and Scotland.Pool B will have Australia, Ireland, Japan and the returning New Zealand who claimed Silver in the 2020 Olympics.Pool C sees Argentina, USA, Spain and Samoa battle in what could be termed as the group of death.

Currently, Shujaa are eighth on the Series standings on 22 points having collected ten points in the first Dubai Sevens Tournament after an eighth place finish.

Shujaa finish eighth in season opening Dubai 7s

In the second tournament, the national side finished in sixth as they collected twelve points.

Interestingly, due to Covid-19 challenges, there's a unique Series points scoring system introduced where the best 7 men's results out of the nine outings will contribute to a team's final Series standings. At the end, two men's teams will be relegated from the 2022 Series.

Malaga 7s Pools

Pool A: South Africa, England, Scotland, Fiji

Pool B: Australia, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand

Pool C: Argentina, USA, Spain, Samoa

Pool D: France, Kenya 7s, Canada, Wales