Coach Mwanja impressed by Lionesses brave show, turns focus to promotion playoffs

Kenya’s women’s rugby sevens team, the Lionesses, delivered a stunning performance in Cape Town, sealing a dominant 17-0 victory over South Africa to claim the second leg of the HSBC SVNS Challenger Series. The emphatic win at Athlone Stadium not only marked their second triumph in the competition but also secured their place at the top of the standings heading into the final leg.

With this success, the Lionesses now shift their focus to the third and final tournament set for April 11-12 in Krakow, Poland. Their impressive form has placed them in prime position for the promotional-relegation playoffs in Los Angeles, where they will battle for a spot in the HSBC SVNS Series.

And head coach Denis Mwanja is impressed by the show heaping praise on his team’s stellar performance and emphasized the importance of finishing strong in the final leg.

"Being at 40 points gives us an assailable lead against the other teams. We are not just looking at getting to the semis but gathering all the points and getting a weaker opposition for the promotional relegation playoffs in LA," he said.

Vice-captain Grace Achieng echoed the coach’s sentiments, crediting the team’s success to sheer determination and relentless training.

"We’ve come this far due to our determination and hard work that we have been putting in training. We have been fighting to qualify, and this is us preparing for the HSBC. We fell short last year, but this year the girls decided to play, and we are here to win everything."

With their momentum at an all-time high, the Lionesses are not just looking to compete but to conquer, their next challenge is in Poland, a  crucial outing as they chase a historic promotion to the elite HSBC SVNS Series.