History looked imminent at the 2025 HSBC Singapore Sevens for Kenya Sevens (Shujaa).
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-meter 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. Shujaa overcame Spain 12-5 to set up a final against Fiji who beat Argentina 33-24. All that was on Fiji’s mind was a revenge mission while Kenya on the other hand and led by Fijian-born Jone Kubu wanted to retain the bragging rights.
Fiji had the final laugh though as they shattered Shujaa’s hopes of back-to-back final victory against them (Fiji) with a 21-12 victory in a match played at the Singapore National Stadium.
The final started well for Kenya as Nigel Amaitsa scored and converted on the verge of half time to give Kenya a 7-0 lead going into the break.
The Fijians responded quickly after the break with Vuiviawa Naduvalo speeding down the flank to level matters. From there, momentum shifted Fiji’s way, with the rugby giants turning the game on its head by capitalizing on another penalty to win a scrum. Naduvalo completed his brace, putting Fiji ahead 14-7.
The Pacific Islanders put the game away from reach after Alusio Vakadranu scored a well executed try extending the lead to 21-7.
Kenya’s unrelenting efforts paid off, with William Mwanji scoring a try to bring the scores to 12-21 with Kubu missing the conversion.
Fiji held on for the victory, effectively denying Kenya a fairytale final and a replication of their 2016 heroics.
Shujaa’s journey to the final began with a commanding performance in the pool stages, where they topped their group with convincing wins.
Shujaa opened their campaign against Ireland. An early try and conversion from Nygel Amaitsa, saw Shujaa lead 7-0 inside the opening two minutes, before Kevin Wekesa went over in the sixth to take the score to 12-0 in the half-time break.
Patrick Odongo would go over the try line in the 12th minute to take the score to 17-0, before Ireland’s Josh Costello went over to make it 17-7 at full-time, after Mark Roche’s conversion.
Shujaa drew first blood in the second pool game against France, Vincent Onyala slicing through the French defence, in the third minute, with Nygel Amaitsa adding the extras for a 7-0 lead going into the half-time break. The Olympic gold medalists would reply soon after the break drawing level through a Quere Kabaka try and Enahemo Artaud conversion.
In the dying minutes of the second half, Shujaa would win a penalty 40 meters out, dead center, opting to go for the kick, Nygel Amaitsa splitting the uprights to win the game, 10-7 and book the team’s first semi final berth since being promoted back to the World series in the 2024/25 season.
Despite reaching the final, Shujaa will have to compete in the relegation/promotion play-offs in Los Angeles, USA in May after finishing the season ninth. The top four teams from the play-offs will remain in the main cup competition.
