Kenya Sevens thrash Japan to set up ninth-place playoff with Spain

Virimi Vakatawa (France) vs Brian Tanga (Kenya) / Nelson Oyoo (France) / Dennis Ombachi (Kenya) on May 13, 2017.

Kenya 7s Kenya Sevens thrash Japan to set up ninth-place playoff with Spain

Joel Omotto • 11:05 - 09.04.2023

Shujaa will be looking for victory to add more points in the bag as they seek to avoid relegation

Kenya will face Spain in the Singapore Sevens ninth-place playoff following a 40-7 thrashing of Japan in the semi-final on Sunday.

Shujaa had started the day with a 28-14 win over Canada in the ninth-place quarter-final with tries from George Ooro, Brian Tanga, Kevin Wekesa and Edmund Anya which were converted by Daniel Taabu and Tony Omondi before setting up the semi-final meeting with Japan.

With relegation real, Kenya upped their game against the Asians to record the huge win which leaves them with hopes of collecting at least eight points in Singapore.

The second day has looked a little kind for Kenya after a horror opening day when they lost all their group matches following a 26-19 defeat to France, 21-19 loss at the hands of USA before ending their group campaign with a 33-17 reverse to Uruguay.

Kenya have fond memories of Singapore as it is the venue of their most memorable moment in the series when they clinched their first and only Cup win in 2016 and Alvin ‘Buffa’ Otieno is hoping that they can end the leg with more points in the bag.

“What we agreed on as a team is coming together and we are taking every moment as it comes,” Otieno said after the win against Japan. “I was a rookie then (in 2016) and it was amazing for us to win our first ever trophy.”

Shujaa went into Singapore seeking a good performance that would push them higher up the table from their 13th place given only the top 11 teams will retain their core status in the series at the end of the 10th leg in Toulouse.

Failure to do that will see them feature in the more ruthless four-team relegation playoff involving the teams placed between 12th and 14th positions, alongside the Challenger Series 2023 winners, at the eleventh and final round in London to decide the 12th and final side that will make next season’s series.

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