Shujaa set to take on USA in eleventh place playoff match

The men’s national rugby sevens side Shujaa will on Sunday evening face familiar foes in the USA as they close off their 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament with an 11th place playoff match against the team coached by former boss Mike Friday.

The Damian McGrath coached side had been hoping of going all the way to the Challenge Trophy finale after being knocked out of main cup contention by Argentina on Friday but a lackluster performance saw the team miss out on the target after a heavy 36-0 thumping by England who sailed through instead.

Abject Shujaa whipped by England in 7s World Cup Challenge semifinal

Friday’s USA on the other hand were also denied a chance of getting to the final after a spirited Uruguay condemned them to a 21-19 defeat in their semifinal clash.

In what will be their last match of the three day event, Shujaa will be hoping to close in style and bounce back after the disappointment against England in a match that is scheduled to kick off at 1742EAT.

Elsewhere, South Africa’s hopes of lifting the Rugby World Cup trophy on home turf were ended in stunning style when Ireland’s men emphatically eliminated the hosts on quarter-finals day at the Cape Town Stadium.

The Irish were clinical in punishing Blitzboks errors in the final game of the day, with Jordan Conroy putting the cherry on top of a historic performance with two late tries in a 24-14 victory.

It was Ireland’s first-ever win against South Africa at a RWC Sevens and ensured that Neil Powell’s decorated spell as Blitzboks coach won’t end with a fairytale home victory in his final tournament in charge.

With the result, it meant that Ireland set up a semi-final against defending champions New Zealand on Sunday afternoon, after the All Blacks earned a battling win over Argentina to reach the final four.

2022 Series winners Australia and Fiji will also square it out in the other semi with the winners meeting for a shot at the championship decider on Sunday night.

Schedule

Kenya vs USA – 1742EAT

Main Cup Semifinal

Ireland vs New Zealand – 1335EAT

Australia vs Fiji - 1433 EAT