Kenya 7s Head Coach Damian McGrath has named Strathmore Leos George Ooro and Menengai Oilers Dennis Abukuse in the squad that will take part in the Hong Kong 7s scheduled for November 2022.
Abukuse was in top form as Menengai Oilers won the maiden National 7s Circuit title in July while Ooro impressed for the Leos.
Taabu/Mwale return
Daniel Taabu and Bush Mwale who were left out of the World Cup squad have been recalled to the squad. Experienced Willy Ambaka and Billy Odhiambo are retained as well as youngsters Kevin Wekesa, Johnstone Olindi, Edmund Anya and Anthony Omondi.
The squads will be captained by Nelson Oyoo with Vincent Onyala taking up the vice captain duties.
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Kenya 7s have been drawn in Pool D alongside Argentina, Ireland and Canada. Kenya will be keen to rise from last season’s struggles which saw them finish 12th in the standings.
Seeded top
2022 World 7s Series Champions Australia are seeded top in pool A. They will face New Zealand, Samoa and hosts Hong Kong.
South Africa who finished second in the World 7s Series have been placed in Pool B. They have been grouped alongside France, Great Britain and Uruguay.
Great Britain will be featuring in World Rugby Sevens Series once again after England, Scotland, and Wales agreed to merge for the world 7s Series, a decision, that aligns with their Olympic participation status and qualification pathway.
Uruguay on their part became a core nation for the 2022/23 World Rugby Sevens Series having qualified after winning the 2022 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series in Chile.
Pool C has World and Olympic Champions Fiji who will battle it out with USA, Spain and Japan.
Hong Kong Sevens will return to the schedule for the first time in almost three years after rugby bosses were given the approval to host the tournament.
The tournament was last played in 2019 with Fiji beating France 21-7 to be crowned Champions.
