Following a decent shift in the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, Kenya Lionesses trio of Janet Okello, Judith Okumu and Grace Okulu were the recipient of glowing praise from the tournament’s commentators.World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series was back with a bang in August following a two-year hiatus that was occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.Prodigious Patrick Odongo dreams of donning Shujaa jerseyThe tournament was to determine the team that would earn promotion to the HSBC Women’s World Rugby Sevens with the winner earning the sole slot.##NAJAVA_MECA_6588085##Kenya came close to sealing a historic place in the Series but suffered heartbreak in the semi-finals where they fell to Japan who eventually sealed a place in the series.Joe Byrnes and Jack Zorab who were the commentators in the Challenger Series heaped praise on the trio as they also reserved high praise for the Lionesses.##NAJAVA_MECA_6579258##“In their own coach’s words, Kenya are in a rebuilding phase following last year’s Olympics. That’s what all their pre-tournament chat was about anyway. It might have been a bluff, however, for they were superb! Either way, in Santiago we all found out that this team has some very solid foundations.They beat China – one of the strongly fancied teams – in their first match. Then they enjoyed a great win over South Africa, where they out-muscled and outplayed their African rivals to progress to the bronze medal match, where China ultimately sought their revenge.Shujaa set to face Samoa in Los Angeles 7s openerKenya were unpredictable, physical, aggressive and never afraid to take teams on. Nothing surprising there then, but they were also very well organised and in Janet Okello, Judith Okumu and Grace Okulu they have game-breaking players who will hopefully stay on the sevens scene for Kenya for many more years to come,” said the commentators.Grace Okulu scored an important conversion for Lionesses in their opening game as they beat China 17-15 who were one of the pre-tournament favourites.
