Kenya finish 13th in Dubai Sevens

Mike Ellery (centre) and Phil Burgess of England (bottom) vie for the ball against Daniel Taabu of Kenya (left) during their HSBC Dubai Sevens Series men's match at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on December 6, 2019. PHOTO | KARIM SAHIB |

What you need to know:

  • This year’s World Rugby Sevens Series has adopted a new format where those finishing first and second in the pools proceed to Cup quarter-finals with the rest being paired in classification matches depending on their performances.
  • Pool “D” winners South Africa, who beat England 19-14, face Argentina while England take on France in the Cup quarters. New Zealand play USA while Australia is up against Samoa in other Cup quarters showdown.

Kenya Sevens secured four points from Dubai Sevens, the opening leg the 2019/2020 World Rugby Seven Series, when they beat Scotland 26-14 to finish 13th at The Sevens Stadium on Saturday.

Daniel Sikuta, Vincent Onyala, Johnstone Olindi and Alvin Otieno landed a try each as Daniel Taabu made three conversions to spur Kenya Sevens to their only victory at Dubai Sevens.

Kenya led 14-0 at the break as Scotland battled to score two tries through Sam Pecqueur and Harvey Elms, but all was in vain.

Its Kenya Sevens' Pool “D” opponents, South Africa, who went all the way to lift their seventh Dubai Sevens title after they thrashed New Zealand 15-0 in the cracking final.

England, who were also in Kenya’s pool, got to claim bronze after beating Samoa 19-17 in the play-off at Dubai Sevens that was celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The Series moves to Cape Town this weekend.