Kenya 7s squad for Los Angeles leg revealed

Ahead of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Los Angeles 7s season ender, the national men’s sevens head coach Damian McGrath has reinstated Jeff Oluoch and Samuel Oliech to the squad.

The duo were missing in action as Kenya reached the Main Cup quarters at the Commonwealth Games and replace Levi Amunga and Herman Humwa.

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Shujaa have been pooled against Samoa who have finished fourth in the last three legs of the series, England and Scotland who had disappointing outings in the Commonwealth Games.

McGrath revealed that the exclusion of Humwa and Amunga did not boil down to performances but he wanted to have a look at other players.

“The side for L.A was selected mainly on the contracted players, I’ve made two changes from the Commonwealth Games team simply to have a look at other players, so Sammy Oliech and Jeff Oluoch will come in.

It’s not a reflection on the guys who have been left out…it’s just a chance for me to look at them because we are looking to change the senior squad group to bring in some younger players from the National Sevens Circuit,” said McGrath.

Despite hovering perilously close to the red zone, Shujaa were confirmed as a core team ahead of next season after England, Scotland and Wales opted to compete under the umbrella of team Great Britain.

McGrath admitted that Samoa will offer a stern test in the Pool games following their impressive performances in the series and was also wary of the depth that England and Scotland possess.

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“We are in a fairly tough pool in L.A, Samoa are the leading team in our group. They’ve been playing very very well this year…been based in Dubai since Christmas training, playing and preparing as a team…so they’ll offer a tough assignment for the first game.

We then play England and Scotland who despite having a young team always have a wide pool of players to choose from, so they’ll offer a different challenge. Scotland beat us narrowly in the Commonwealth Games and whilst we are not going there expecting to turn everybody over, we are very confident that we can put in some good performances,” added McGrath.

Shujaa squad for Los Angeles

Nelson Oyoo (Nakuru, captain), Daniel Taabu (Mwamba), Bush Mwale (Homeboyz), Alvin Otieno (KCB), Vincent Onyala (KCB), Billy Odhiambo (Mwamba), Jeff Oluoch (Homeboyz), Anthony Omondi (Mwamba), Samuel Oliech (Impala Saracens), Johnstone Olindi (KCB), Edmund Anya (Impala Saracens), William Ambaka (Narvskaya Zastava), Kevin Wekesa (Kabras Sugar).