Kenya’s Shujaa strengthened their bid for promotion with an impressive showing at the second leg of the HSBC SVNS 2 series in Montevideo, Uruguay, climbing into a strong position in the overall standings.
In contrast, the Kenya Lionesses endured a mixed tournament, leaving them with work to do ahead of the decisive final leg in São Paulo, Brazil.
Shujaa’s campaign at Estadio Charrúa began with a setback, falling narrowly to the United States in their opening fixture. The early loss briefly threatened to derail their momentum, but the Kenyan side responded with resilience and tactical discipline.
They bounced back with a convincing win over Canada before delivering a dominant performance against Belgium, showcasing their attacking fluidity and defensive organisation.
The back-to-back victories propelled Shujaa into contention for a strong finish in Montevideo.
Their improved showing saw them emerge among the top-performing sides of the leg, underlining their growth and determination in the second-tier global sevens competition.
While Shujaa impressed, it was the German national rugby sevens team who claimed top honours in Montevideo, defeating the United States national rugby sevens team in the final.
Germany’s victory, combined with their earlier success in Nairobi, cemented their status as one of the most consistent teams in the series.
The United States also maintained a strong form, finishing as runners-up and remaining level on points with Germany in the overall standings.
Following the Nairobi and Montevideo legs, the men’s standings have taken clearer shape: Germany – 38 points, USA – 38 points, Kenya (Shujaa) – 32 points, Uruguay – 28 points, Belgium – 22 points, Canada – 22 points
Shujaa’s third-place standing places them firmly within the top four qualification zone, with promotion to the SVNS World Championship still within reach.
With momentum now on their side, Shujaa head into the final leg with renewed confidence.
For the Kenya Lionesses, the Montevideo leg proved more challenging.
They opened their campaign with a loss to China women’s national rugby sevens team, struggling to contain their opponents’ attacking phases.
However, the Lionesses responded with a narrow victory over Argentina, demonstrating resilience and fighting spirit.
The win offered a glimpse of their potential, but inconsistency continued to hinder their progress.
A subsequent defeat to Spain women’s national rugby sevens team left them with a mixed record, ultimately impacting their position in the overall standings.
In the women’s competition, Argentina women’s national rugby sevens team continued their dominance, clinching the Montevideo title after also winning the Nairobi leg.
They were followed by South Africa women’s national rugby sevens team and Spain, both of whom have shown consistency across the series.
After two legs, the standings are as follows: Argentina – 40 points, South Africa – 34 points, Spain – 34 points, China – 28 points, Kenya (Lionesses) – 22 points, Brazil – 22 points
The Lionesses sit fifth, six points behind the top four, leaving them with a significant gap to close in the final leg.
The HSBC SVNS 2 series now heads to its third leg in São Paulo, Brazil, where promotion spots will be decided.
With only one tournament remaining, the stakes are clear:
- The top four teams in each competition will qualify for the SVNS World Championship
- Final rankings will determine promotion pathways to the elite global circuit