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Will Shujaa light up Malaga city?

Friday, January 21st, 2022 11:05 | By

Kenya sevens rugby team is headed for a tough-looking third HSBC sevens leg in Malaga, Spain, this weekend.

Shujaa have their work cut out in pool “D” and will first face Canada on Friday at 1.22 pm (EAT) before encountering Wales thereafter at 6.06 pm before wrapping up their campaign against France on Saturday at 1.49 pm.

The three day event will encompass 16 participating teams instead of the previous 12-team Olympic format used in Dubai 7s legs where eight quarter-final slots included two best losers.

Shujaa was one of the two lucky sides in both events to earn a chance in the cup quarters where they were eventually eliminated. Three pool matches will confirm knockouts entrants and also the next opponent for the teams to contest for ninth place finish.

Shujaa was bundled out of the previous two competitions by Fiji and South Africa respectively and those two rivals alongside returning England and Scotland make up the dreaded pool A in Malaga and which will produce two opponents to meet the top two from pool “D”. Playing competitive rugby in Spain will be nothing new for Shujaa who last year came close to winning the back to back Madrid 7s cup.

The Kenyans finished runners up to Argentina in both events and in the process endeared themselves to many fans.

Next weekend, the teams will take a 40-minutes flight to Seville to conclude the Spanish tour that is key for debuting Nations that missed Dubai sevens legs in November and December.

Shujaa head coach Innocent “Namcos” Simiyu is confident his charges are capable of giving their opponents a run for their money

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