Shujaa captain Nelson Oyoo says the team knows what is expected of them and they’re keen to avoid a relegation dogfight ahead of the Los Angeles Sevens set for this weekend.
The Kenyan side heads to the American outing one place above relegation zone as they are placed 12th on 21 points, three above Spain who are facing the relegation axe and he knows the expectation that lies ahead.
“We have to avoid relegation by all means and the only way is to make sure at least we have reached the quarter finals of the remaining tournaments and with the hard work we have put in place I am confident of a good performance from the team,” said Oyoo.
And with the enormity of task at hand, Oyoo says that Shujaa must target to reach the quarter finals in the remaining legs. In Los Angeles the Kenya Sevens side will face Fiji, Japan and Australia in Pool C matches and Oyoo has called on Kenyans in the diaspora to turn up in large numbers and support the boys.
“It is not an easy pool, they are tough opponents whom we have to be very careful while facing but we will take one game at a time so I also want to request Kenyans leaving in the diaspora to come out in large numbers and support us because they make us feel at home and that keeps us going,”s tated the team captain.
Shujaa will open their campaign against Australia on Saturday at 9.43pm then face Fiji on Sunday at 1:18am before winding up their group matches with a clash against Japan at 4.3 am.
World Rugby introduced new rules this season where the 15th ranked core teams based on accumulated Series points following the tenth round in Toulouse will be relegated.
The teams ranked 12th, 13th and 14th at the end of Toulouse will enter a four-team relegation play-off together with the Challenge Series 2023 winners at the eleventh and final round of the Series in London.
The relegation play-off will be a round-robin format with the top-two teams then playing a final. The winner will become the 12th core team on the 2024 Series, while the other three teams will enter their respective Regional Sevens Championships in order to qualify for the 2024 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.
