This archive report was first published on 13 January 2020.
Kenya's Shujaa rugby team is set to face stiff competition at the upcoming Hamilton Sevens tournament in New Zealand, but they are confident in their preparations.
As they begin their three-day residential training camp in Nakuru, the team is looking to fine-tune their game plan ahead of the third round of the 2019-20 World Sevens Series.
Former captain Oscar Ouma has returned to the team, and along with Denis Ombachi and fly-half Samuel Oliech, they will be conducting three training sessions each day at the Moi Showground.
According to Bush Mwale, a forward for the team, the rigorous training will be crucial in restoring their fitness levels after a festive season break.
‘We have always had two sessions each day, and raising that to three will be key in restoring our fitness levels because we took a festive season break after the Cape Town Sevens. We need to have our bodies and minds in the right shape before the Hamilton tournament since it will be very competitive,’ Mwale said.
The team will also be bonding as a unit during the camp, which will be crucial in their mission to succeed in the tournament.
With World Rugby having scrapped the quarter-finals at the Hamilton event, only the pool winners will remain in the running for the Main Cup by advancing to the semi-finals.
Shujaa, who are 11th on the World Sevens Series standings with 15 points, have been drawn in Pool B together with Series leaders South Africa, England, and non-core side Japan.
‘Our first fixture will be very important because it could decide how far we go. We have played South Africa several times and we are already familiar to each other,’ Mwale said.
