Forget the glitz of the main series for a second. Yesterday at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo, it was all about survival. The heavens opened, the pitch turned into a bog, and both Kenyan sides found themselves in a dogfight during the opening day of the second round of the HSBC SVNS 2 Series.
While the “main” circuit might be in New York, the real battle for promotion is happening in South America—and for our Kenyan stars, it was a day of mixed fortunes under the Uruguayan rain.
Shujaa: The Bounce Back
Kevin Wambua’s Shujaa started the day with a bit of a stutter. Facing a clinical USA side in their opener, the boys looked a yard off the pace in the wet conditions, falling 14-10. It was a frustrating result, especially considering the narrow margin, but if there’s one thing this 2026 Shujaa squad has, it’s resilience.
They didn’t let the heads drop. In their second outing against Belgium, Shujaa was a completely different beast. Despite the mud making running rugby a nightmare, Floyd Wabwire and Kevin Wekesa Nyongesa found their footing early. They bullied the Belgians at the breakdown and clinically dispatched them 20-0. Two wins from three on the opening day keeps Shujaa firmly in the hunt, chasing down the unbeaten Germans and Americans for that top spot.
Lionesses: A Tough Day in the Trenches
For the Lionesses, Saturday was a brutal lesson in fine margins. They kicked off their campaign against a disciplined China side, and despite a spirited second-half push, they couldn’t overturn an early deficit, falling 19-5.
The second match against Spain was even more of a heartbreaker. In a game that was “messy and error-strewn” (thanks to the torrential rain), the Lionesses were locked in a defensive stalemate for most of the match. Spain eventually snatched a 19-14 win, leaving the Kenyan women with two narrow defeats and a massive mountain to climb on Day Two.
The silver lining? They picked up crucial losing bonus points in both matches, which could be the difference-maker when the final pool rankings are tallied.
The Verdict: All to Play For
The conditions in Montevideo have been a “great equalizer,” but they haven’t favored the African sides’ natural pace and flair. Shujaa looks strong and capable of a deep run if they can keep the discipline high, while the Lionesses need a perfect Sunday to keep their promotion dreams alive.
It’s gritty, it’s wet, and it’s exactly the kind of test these teams need if they want to get back to the world’s biggest stages like Hong Kong and Valladolid later this year.
Can Shujaa overtake the USA on Day Two? The race for the SVNS 2 title is wide open, and with Germany also looking sharp, Sunday is going to be a sprint to the finish.
