The Kenya Rugby Union has announced the squads that will represent the East African nation at the penultimate Challenger events in in Germany and Poland on May 18-19.
The male team Shujaa (men) and the women team Lionesses are primed for the HSBC Sevens Challenger finale as they aim to secure promotion to the elite World Rugby Sevens Series.
The two competitions will be played as standalone tournaments with the men’s taking part in Munich in Germany and Krakow in Poland for the women
For Shujaa, standout star Patrick Odongo returns to the fold after missing the previous leg in Uruguay. He will co-captain the side alongside the experienced Vincent Onyala and Tony Omondi. Brian Tanga is also back in the squad after recovering from illness, while Herman Humwa earns his first call-up of the season.
“Odongo is one of three changes to the side…Dennis Abukuse, Elvis Olukusi and Ben Salem, part of the team to Uruguay, are not on the plane to Germany,” stated the KRU.
Meanwhile, the Lionesses have injected fresh faces in Freshia Oduor and Edith Nairaka, who are set for their Challenger debuts in Poland. They replace the Japan-based duo of Grace Okulu and Janet Okello, who were unavailable for selection. Sheila Chajira will lead the Lionesses in Krakow.
Both Kenyan outfits face a stern test in their respective pool stages. Shujaa are pooled with Chile, Japan and Portugal in Pool C, while the Lionesses are in Pool C alongside Belgium, Mexico and hosts Poland.
A strong performance is crucial for Shujaa and Lionesses as they target a top-four finish in the overall Challenger Series standings.
This would secure their place in the promotion playoffs in Madrid, Spain – the gateway to the prestigious World Rugby Sevens Series for the 2024-25 season.
Kenyan rugby fans will be eagerly following the fortunes of their national heroes as they
