Kenya Sevens coach reveals how team grappled with news of HSBC SVNS format change

Kenya Sevens head coach Louis Kisia has opened up on the heartbreak and disbelief that swept through the Shujaa camp following World Rugby’s confirmation of the new HSBC SVNS format.

This move has resulted in Shujaa’s automatic relegation from the World Series.

CONFIRMED: Kenya Sevens suffer automatic relegation after HSBC SVNS changes format

Speaking from Los Angeles ahead of the upcoming playoffs, Kisia painted a raw and emotional picture of how the team received the news.

“This attests to the saying that you can only control what you can control. I got this circular from the head coach on Tuesday, but I did not peruse it well until Wednesday morning. In the morning, I saw the boys were a bit down. You could tell their mood was low. That hit me and Andrew, and Bling, and we started discussing that,” Kisia said.

“I returned to my phone, read that circular, and my mood went down immediately. I could not believe what I was reading. It hurt me, it broke me, and it is very unfortunate. Tough on us, but tougher for the boys,” he added.

The restructuring of the HSBC SVNS Series now means that only the top eight teams after the Singapore leg qualify for the 2025 World Championship Series in Los Angeles, where they will also retain core status for the 2026 season.

Kenya, who finished outside the elite bracket, had expected to fight for promotion in LA, but this hope has now been dashed. They now face a far more complex path.

The relegation places them in a playoff with teams from the Challenger Series, with the risk of dropping further depending on results. For a team that had clawed its way back into contention after reaching the Singapore final, the news has been crushing.

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Despite the setback, Kisia remains focused on regrouping and ensuring the team finishes strong.

“It will take some time for it to sink in. But that is the reality of things. Ours is just to go and play our hearts out and ensure we get wins out of these games. We will go back to the drawing board, let it sink in, and prepare for the next season. We do not know how it is going to turn out, but we hope for the best,” he averred.

His sentiments were echoed by Shujaa’s co-captain, Samuel Asati, who acknowledged the disappointment while urging the team and fans to remain focused and optimistic.

“We are disappointed because we wanted to play in the core series. Even with the new format, our goal is still to win all our matches. Hopefully, the boys will rise to the occasion,” Asati revealed.

He described the season so far as a learning experience filled with both highs and lows.

The Singapore final was their highest peak.

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“Coming back from the final in Singapore was great, but that is now in the past. Right now, our focus is totally on this tournament. A game at a time,” he revealed.

Asati concluded with a heartfelt message to the team’s loyal supporters.

“Our fans, you are like our eighth players on the pitch, so we do not take your support for granted. Thank you so much."