Shujaa, Lionesses learn opponents ahead of Los Angeles Promotion/Relegation Playoffs

The Kenya Sevens men’s and women’s rugby teams, Shujaa and the Lionesses, now know who stands in their way as they gear up for the all-important promotion/relegation playoffs at the HSBC World Sevens Series in Los Angeles.

The matches are scheduled for Saturday, 3 to Sunday, 4 May at the Dignity Health Sports Park.

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After finishing ninth in the 2024 regular season and missing out on direct qualification behind Great Britain, Shujaa have been drawn into a fiercely competitive Pool A alongside hosts USA, Portugal, and Samoa.

This marks the third time Kenya will be involved in the promotion playoffs since the format was introduced in 2023.

Uruguay and Canada are also returning to the playoff stage, highlighting how intense and unpredictable the path to top-tier status has become.

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Pool B features Uruguay, Ireland, Canada, and Germany, with all eight teams eyeing a coveted top-four finish that would extend their stay in elite competition.

On the women’s side, the Lionesses find themselves in Pool A with Brazil, Spain, and Colombia.

They have faced all these sides before, and each with its history.

The clash against Brazil is set to be emotionally charged. The South Americans dashed Kenya’s dreams in the 2019 HSBC qualifiers with a 17-5 defeat. The Lionesses are eager to avenge that loss.

Colombia are a familiar opponent, with Kenya having edged them 12-5 during the Challenger Series in Krakow, Poland.

Meanwhile, Spain has consistently had the upper hand against Kenya since 2016, but with a rejuvenated squad, the Lionesses will be keen to rewrite that script.

While World Rugby has yet to confirm the exact format for this year’s edition, the previous season followed a round-robin group stage, leading to cross-pool qualifiers to determine which teams earned core status.

In 2024, a top-four finish remains more critical than ever, especially amid reports that World Rugby plans to reduce the number of core teams from 12 to just eight next season due to financial constraints stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the proposed new model—reported by Spanish outlet El Periodico and Uruguay’s El Observador—the four top finishers in Los Angeles will qualify for three second-tier tournaments in the next season.

They will also get the opportunity to compete in three additional events with top-tier teams.

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These teams will receive the same £300,000 financial support currently granted to core teams, although this funding is guaranteed only for the 2025 season.

The revised format also introduces a second division, made up of six teams—four from the Los Angeles playoffs and two from a Challenger tournament that will feature teams ranked 13th to 20th globally.

Each season will now end with a Grand Finals event, where 12 teams—eight from the main circuit and four qualifiers from the second tier—will contest for overall series honors.

This structure is expected to remain through to the end of the current Olympic cycle in July 2028, although financial certainty beyond the first year is still in question.