Kenya’s beloved Shujaa gave it everything they had in Hong Kong. They tackled hard, ran with fire, and played with pride — the kind that’s earned them fans all over the world. But in the end, the scoreboard didn’t tell the whole story.
Three points from the tournament pushed their total to 18 in the overall HSBC SVNS standings — just one place short of safety. Now, with just one round left in the regular season, the reality has hit home: Shujaa will have to battle it out in the relegation playoffs.
It’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that’s poured its soul into this campaign. Even if they pull off a dream run in Singapore and win it all, they’ll only reach 38 points — not enough to leapfrog Great Britain, who already hold that mark and have clinched the final safe spot.
Instead, Shujaa will head into the playoffs, where survival isn’t just a goal — it’s everything. They’ll be up against familiar foes like Uruguay (17 points), Ireland (15), and a desperate USA team sitting at the bottom, with the final showdown set for their home turf in Los Angeles.
A Season of Highs and Lows
This season has been a rollercoaster. While Shujaa have struggled to find consistency, Argentina have been soaring. They’ve taken home three titles on the bounce — in Perth, Vancouver, and Hong Kong — and now lead the standings with 88 points, clear favorites to win the league phase.
Fiji, always electric, are chasing with 76 points, and Spain continue to impress in third with 74. South Africa, France, Australia, New Zealand, and Great Britain round out the top eight — all safely out of the relegation danger zone.
All Eyes on Singapore
For Kenya, the next stop is Singapore — a chance to regroup, reset, and build momentum ahead of the playoffs. They’ve been drawn in Pool B alongside Ireland and France — both tough sides, but nothing this team can’t handle when they play to their potential.
This isn’t just about rugby anymore. It’s about pride. It’s about representing a country that stands behind them, no matter the result. It’s about staying in the fight, not just for points, but for the jersey, the flag, and the dreams of every young player back home watching.
Shujaa have been here before. They know how to dig deep. They know what it means to fight with your back against the wall. And if there’s one thing we can all count on, it’s that when they step onto that pitch — whether in Singapore or in Los Angeles — they’ll leave everything they have out there.
Because that’s who they are.
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