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Simbas players part of squad training for HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series set for Spain

Wednesday, January 5th, 2022 03:00 | By
Kenya Simbas fullback Jone Kubu chips the ball to beat the gain line against Senegal at the Nyayo National Stadium last year. Photo/PD/ALEX NJUE

Kenya rugby sevens head coach Innocent Simiyu has included Kenya Simbas trio of Vincent Onyala, Jones Kubu and Derrick Ashiundu in a 24-man Shujaa squad that began camp at the RFUEA grounds on Tuesday ahead of the resumption of the 2021/22 World Sevens Series with two legs in Spain this month.

 In an exclusive interview with Shujaa tactician, Kenya Sevens fans’ prayers to have Kabras duo- Kubu and Ashiundu - in the Shujaa set-up have been answered thanks to a good display during their South African tour with the national 15s outfit. 

The Kakamega based duo, alongside Onyala, gave Simbas crucial points in the tour that saw ex-Fijian Kubu named the man of the Stellenbosch challenge after Kenya secured a nervy 36-30 win over Brazil to clinch bronze.   

“We are back at camp with a squad of 24 players whom we want to assess over the next two weeks.

We called up Ashiundu and Kubu to the squad (after) having played well for the Simbas with Onyala also returning to the squad,”  Simiyu told People Sport.

 This marks Shujaa’s first training camp of the year ahead of the third HSBC World Sevens legs in Spain on January 21-22 in Malaga and between the 28th and  30th in Seville.

Simiyu is pleased with how the boys are adapting in the competition.

“Our focus is to hit performance standards consistently and hopefully get back to competing in the medal bracket,” he said.

Placed eighth

 Currently Shujaa are placed eighth on the world standings with 22 points after two legs  after finishing eighth and sixth in the first and second legs at the Sevens stadium in Dubai last year.

 The 2022 Series is a 10-legged affair  that was kicked off with the Emirates Dubai Sevens  on November 26-27, 2021, and was followed by a second event on December 3-4  at The Sevens Stadium.

 The Series will resume in Spain this month with a combined men’s and women’s events in Malaga and Seville.

Traditionally the series would have Sydney Sevens and Hamilton Sevens hosted by Australia and New Zealand respectively but the two are unable to host the two legs set to be hosted in Malaga and Seville for the first time. 

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