Shujaa's date with destiny after stunning Ireland, France

In 2016, Kenya were playing Argentina in the semi-finals of the Singapore Sevens when Shujaa legend Collins Injera slotted a penalty drop kick from the ten-metre line to beat Argentina 15-12 with the final kick of the match.

The victory earned them a final date with Fiji whom they upset 30-7 to lift their maiden World Rugby Series title.

History repeated itself today, albeit this time it was Nygel Amaitsa on the ball and France as the opponents in a crucial Group C match.

Amaitsa's penalty drop kick earned Kenya their first semi-final in the HSBC SVNS Series in seven years after stunning the series defending champions France 10-7.

Vincent Onyala had given Shujaa a narrow 7-0 halftime lead before Joe Quere Karaba levelled the tie for the French in the ninth minute.

Shujaa hadn’t made the final four since the Hong Kong Sevens in 2018, where they went one further by reaching the Cup final.

Sunday’s semi-final against Spain (9.34am EAT) will be so emotional for Shujaa who will be keen to not only replicate their 2016 heroics when they stunned Fiji 30-7 to win the Singapore Sevens but also honour the late coach Benjamin Ayimba who led the team at the time.

Surely, Kenya will hope not only to invoke Ayimba’s spirit in the semis but also follow in the footsteps of the incredible 2016 team that included long-serving legends Injera, Humphrey Kayange, Andrew Amonde and Willy Ambaka.

“Through the Challenger Series we always thought that we were the best, so coming to the HSBC SVNS, our first season, we just had to prove that we can be here," Amaitsa told World Rugby.

“When we went to the changing room after the Ireland match, we just had to defeat France, we never had an option because we had to play our best and the results came."

="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/index.php/rugby/article/2001514905/shujaa-stun-spain-in-hong-kong-sevens-opener">Shujaa hammered Spain< 19-0 last week when the two sides met at the Hong Kong Sevens and Kelvin Wambua will hope to guide Kenya to another win over the European outfit.

Argentina, the 2024-2025 HSBC SVNS league winners, will face off with Fiji in the second semi-final. Indeed, history might just repeat itself if both Kenya and Fiji make the finals.

Kenya Sevens got off their Singapore Sevens campaign on the front foot after thrashing Ireland 17-7 in the opening match at the Singapore National Stadium.

Kevin Wekesa, Nygel Amaitsa and Patrick Odongo all grounded tries for Shujaa.

The eight men’s teams who will compete in the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles are confirmed as Argentina, Fiji, Spain, South Africa, France, New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain. 

Unfortunately, Kenya will join Ireland, Uruguay and USA in the relegation and promotion playoffs after failing to finish among the top eight teams.

The four teams will battle the top four teams from the World Rugby Challenger Series in a winner-takes-it-all playoff set for May in Los Angeles.