John Okoth on brace as Kenya 7s run over Chile in final pool match

Kenya 7s had a strong finish in the HSBC 7s playoffs pool whipping Chile 36-7 in the final pool match played in Madrid.

Kenya’s performance in the opening matches of the tournament had been a mixed bag, with a win against Samoa but a loss to Spain. However, determined to finish on a high note, they started their next match impressively.

Kenya 7s led by Okoth

John Okoth showcased his speed and skill early on, breaking through the defense to score in the left corner, giving Kenya a 5-0 lead after the conversion was missed.

Okoth’s momentum continued as he once again outpaced his markers to score in the same spot, despite immense pressure that prompted a review by the TMO before awarding the try.

Chile managed to pull back with a converted try from Cristobal Game, narrowing the gap.

In the closing minutes of the first half, Kenya displayed excellent teamwork as Okoth made another strong carry, leading to the ball being channeled to the right. Tony Omondi’s well-timed offload found Chrissant Ojwang, who powered over the line under the posts for a converted try, extending Kenya’s lead.

The match PatricK Odongo limp out but did not dampened Kenyan moods. Samuel Asati had a cheeky run off the scrum to score the fourth try under the post.

Shujaa’s fifth try was an easy pick of Vincent Onyala for a centre post try. George Ooro landed a centre post try after a show a go as Kenya finished impressively.

Shujaa now shift focus to Sunday where they play a crucial match that will determine will qualify for the series.

EDITOR’S PICKS:

The teams in each pool will compete in a round-robin format to determine the rankings ahead of the cross-pool matches. These matches will decide the qualifiers matches for the 2025 HSBC Sevens World Series (SVNS), with the winners earning core team status.

During the cross-pool matches, the top-ranked team in Pool A will face the fourth-ranked team in Pool B in Qualifier One.

In the second qualifier match, the third-ranked team in Pool A will take on the second-ranked team in Pool B.

The second-ranked team in Pool A will then compete against the third-ranked team in Pool B in the third qualifier.

Finally, the fourth qualifier will see the fourth-ranked team in Pool A against the top-ranked team in Pool B.

HSBC SVNS PROMOTION POSSIBLE SCENARIOS:

A team can lose all their group stage matches, finish bottom in their group, but win their qualifier and qualify for the series.
A team can win all their group stage matches but lose their qualifier match and miss out on the series.
All four teams from the 2024 HSBC SVNS could potentially be relegated, allowing those from the Challenger Series to qualify.
Alternatively, all four teams from the HSBC SVNS could retain their core status.

Kenya 7s captain Vincent Onyala races on for a try. PHOTO/Mike Lee for World Rugby.

Kenya 7s will play Chile in the final pool match on Saturday night. The outcome of this match will determine their qualifier playoff opponent.

The dynamic nature of the playoffs ensures that every match is crucial, with teams needing to stay focused and resilient to secure their place in the prestigious HSBC Sevens World Series.