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Kenya Sevens have a difficult task of regaining their core status and the journey begins at the Africa Men’s Sevens set to take place in Zimbabwe in September
Following their relegation from the World Rugby Sevens Series on Sunday, Kenya Sevens have a tough route back to the top flight that will see them return at the earliest in the 2024-25 campaign.
Kenya, who had been a core team since the 2004-05 season, paid the price for the poor handling of the team in recent years, when they fell 12-7 to Canada in the relegation playoff final, sending shockwaves across the local rugby fraternity.
With relegation confirmed, Shujaa will now need to qualify from the second tier Challenger Series in 2023-24 for a slot in the 2024-25 World Series. It is not that easy, however.
They begin their promotion journey at the Africa Men’s Sevens slated for September 16 and 17 in Zimbabwe with the 12-team tournament also serving at the 2024 Olympics qualifier where only one team will make it to Paris.
While it has previously been much easier to qualify for the Olympics via this route with the likes of Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Madagascar, Tunisia, Burkina Faso and Namibia to contend with, their task has been made difficult this time, given South Africa will also be seeking an Olympics ticket through the tournament, having failed to finish in the top four in the World Series.
If Kenya fail to win the Africa Men’s Sevens tournament, they will hope to finish second or third to qualify for the 2024 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament while also making it to the 2024 Challenger Series.
Assuming that is secured, they will enter into the 12-team Challenger Series which is a two-weekend tournament involving teams from around the world including the likes of Uruguay, and Japan who missed out on promotion in the just-concluded season.
The tournament will take place in April 2024 with a win needed for them to regain their core status. Shujaa will, however, hope to have overcome the issues that got them into the current mess by then, given Uruguay, who missed out on promotion by just one point, will be among favourites for the coveted slot.
The South Americans beat Kenya in most of their meetings in 2022-23, including in their third relegation playoff game on Sunday, meaning their work is cut out.
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