Perth 7s: Kenya Sevens renew rivalry with New Zealand from 6am

Shujaa fly half Nygel Amaitsa (right) in action against Australia. [World Rugby]

Kenya's rugby sevens team, Shujaa, are gearing up for a tough assignment as they head into the Perth Sevens, the third leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

The tournament, set to take place from Friday at the HBF Park in Australia, will see Kenya battle with rugby giants New Zealand and Fiji in Group C alongside Uruguay.

Shujaa kick off their campaign with a daunting opener against New Zealand today (6am).

Later in the day, they take on Fiji at 10.59am before wrapping up their pool fixtures on Sunday (7am) against Uruguay.

The matchups present a stern challenge for Shujaa as they seek to make their mark in the revamped World SVNS Series.

Kenya comes into the Perth Sevens buoyed by a strong showing in the first two rounds of the series. The team began their campaign in Dubai, finishing 10th and earning three points.

In the second leg in Cape Town, they stormed into the Cup quarter-finals but fell 14-26 to Argentina in the fifth-place semi-final. Shujaa rebounded impressively with a 32-17 victory over Great Britain in the seventh-place playoff, leaving South Africa in ninth position overall.

The squad has been bolstered by the return of Vincent Onyala, a key player who will make his first appearance in the new-look SVNS Series.

Onyala, who missed the 2022/23 relegation season due to a knee injury and the opening two legs of the 2024/25 season owing to contractual issues, is expected to add firepower to Shujaa's attack.

Another boost comes in the form of Brian Tanga, who returns after recovering from a wrist injury he sustained during the Dala Sevens in 2024.

To accommodate these changes, Brian Mutua and Brayan Ondego have made way, while key players such as Kevin Wekesa, William Mwanji, Denis Abukuse, Nygel Amaitsa, Antony Omondi, Festus Shiasi, Benson Salem, and speedsters Patrick Odongo and Floyd Wabwire retain their places. Captains Samuel Asati and George Ooro will continue to lead the side.

"Having the boys in one place focusing on training brought us together, we're able to work on the tactical bits of the sport and this has improved our performance," said Asati.

"Additionally, having Onyala and Tanga back is a plus as they bring in a lot of leadership within the set up together with Tony."

The Perth Sevens promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with the top 12 men's and women's teams in the world battling it out. The tournament features a star-studded lineup of Olympians and emerging talents, building on the excitement of the first two rounds in Dubai and Cape Town.

Fiji leads the men's standings after securing gold in Dubai and bronze in Cape Town. They join New Zealand, Kenya, and Uruguay in Group C, creating a fiercely competitive group.

Hosts Australia, who won the 2024 SVNS title, will play in Group A alongside Argentina, South Africa, and the USA. Group B features Olympic champions France, Spain, Great Britain, and Ireland.

The Perth Sevens marks the third of six regular-season events in the HSBC SVNS Series, which also includes stops in Vancouver, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

The top eight teams after the six events will qualify for the high-stakes World Championship in Los Angeles, where the men's and women's SVNS champions will be crowned.

Additionally, Los Angeles will host the promotion and relegation playoffs, with teams ranked ninth to 12th joining the top four teams from the World Rugby Sevens Challenger to fight for a spot in the next SVNS Series.

As Shujaa prepare for their opening game against New Zealand, they will aim to build on their improved form and climb up the standings.