The inaugural HSBC SVNS 2 competition kicked off at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium with high-octane rugby and a celebratory atmosphere.
Host nation Kenya, along with the USA and Argentina, emerged as the dominant forces of the opening day, each securing an unbeaten record in front of a passionate, sell-out crowd.
The Kenyan men’s team, Shujaa, provided the day’s most dramatic finish during their final match against Germany. After falling behind 10-0, the hosts clawed back to a 10-10 tie, forcing the game into golden point extra time.
Festus Shiasi Safari secured the 15-10 win by slicing through the German defense to the delight of the home fans. Earlier in the day, homegrown hero Patrick Odongo Okong’o led the charge with a double in an opening 29-12 win over Canada, followed by a clinical 33-0 shutout of Belgium.
The USA Eagles Sevens were equally impressive, establishing themselves as heavy favorites by breaking the 40-point barrier in two of their three matches.
They opened with a 40-0 statement win over Belgium and closed the day with a dominant 41-7 victory over Canada, highlighted by a four-try performance from Lucas Lacamp. Their most testing moment came against Uruguay, where Pita Vi scored a late, decisive touchdown to secure a narrow 19-14 win.
In the women’s competition, Argentina’s Las Yaguaretés took full control of the field. Having recently been promoted, the South Americans proved their pedigree by winning all three of their fixtures.
Talia Rodich was the standout performer, scoring twice in their opening win against China and adding crucial tries in hard-fought victories over Spain and Brazil. Their day ended with a convincing 28-17 win over their Brazilian neighbors, cementing their spot at the top of the table.
The host nation’s women’s side, the Kenya Lionesses, also kept themselves in contention for a top-four finish. They ignited the stadium with a 15-12 comeback win against Brazil in their first match, with tries from Janet Okelo, Stella Wafula, and Naomi Amuguni.
Although they suffered narrow defeats to China and South Africa later in the day, they managed to secure two potentially vital losing bonus points, keeping their tournament hopes alive heading into the final rounds on Sunday.
