Kenya Sevens’ difficult outing at the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Bordeaux continued after Shujaa suffered a defeat to Great Britain, leaving them without a win in Pool A and under increasing pressure heading into the decisive stages of the tournament.
The loss capped a frustrating group-stage campaign for Kevin Wambua’s charges, who had already fallen to Fiji and South Africa in their opening matches. Shujaa’s winless run means their hopes of finishing strongly in Bordeaux and securing their place among the elite teams remain under threat.
Kenya entered the tournament knowing the stakes were high, with the race to retain core status in the HSBC SVNS Series intensifying. Bordeaux represents the final opportunity for teams battling near the bottom of the standings to collect crucial points. Speaking ahead of the tournament, Kenya’s strength and conditioning coach Andrew Omonde had emphasized the significance of the challenge facing the team.
“The boys know what is at stake, and the whole nation is looking at them to deliver,” said Omonde.
“It’s all about the mental side of the game. We just need to contest for every ball and score from every opportunity.”
Co-captain George Ooro had also expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to rise to the occasion despite the daunting task ahead.
“Thanks to sponsors and management. We plan to man up in the coming two weekends,” Ooro said before the European leg of the competition.
However, results in Bordeaux have not gone Kenya’s way. After opening losses to Fiji and South Africa, Shujaa were unable to turn their fortunes around against Great Britain, a side they had defeated during the previous leg in Valladolid.
The defeat leaves Kenya facing an anxious wait as they battle to remain among the top eight teams and secure their return to the elite tier of the HSBC SVNS circuit next season. With every point proving crucial, Shujaa will now shift their focus to the knockout rounds, hoping to salvage their campaign and keep their core-status ambitions alive.
The Bordeaux tournament marks the final leg of the 2026 HSBC SVNS World Championship, with teams fighting not only for silverware but also for survival in the highly competitive global sevens series.
