Kenya Lionesses Triumph Over Samoa in Challenger Series Debut

The Kenya Lionesses defeated Samoa 20-5 in their Challenger Series opener, with captain Grace Okullo scoring three tries. The team will play Poland later today and seeks a top-four finish to qualify for the HSBC SVNS playoff tournament in Los Angeles.

The Kenya National Women’s Rugby Sevens team, known as the Lionesses, commenced their Challenger Series campaign with an emphatic victory, defeating Samoa 20-5 on March 1, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa. After several minutes of maneuvering against Samoa’s defense, team captain Grace Okullo managed to exploit a gap on the left wing, scoring the Lionesses’ first try. Despite a failed conversion, the team established an early lead of 5-0.

As the match drew closer to halftime, the Lionesses exerted considerable pressure, which resulted in Samoa receiving a second yellow card. Taking advantage of their numerical superiority, Kenya scored again through Grace Okullo, who extended their lead to 10-0, a position they maintained until the halftime break.

The second half commenced with Samoa seizing upon a defensive error from Kenya, allowing Malia Nikalau to break through two defenders and score a try, thereby reducing the score to 10-5. Nevertheless, the Lionesses responded decisively; Naomi Amuguni contributed another unconverted try, pushing the score to 15-5. Shortly afterward, Grace Okullo broke through Samoa’s defense once more, completing her hat trick and sealing the score at 20-5 in favor of Kenya.

The Lionesses are slated to compete against Poland later today at 7:30 PM. With a desire to improve upon last year’s finish, where they fell 19-12 to South Africa in the Challenger Series final, the team aims for a top-four standing to qualify for the HSBC SVNS playoff tournament. Only the top eight teams from the initial rounds will advance to the third leg of the Challenger Series, planned for April 11-12 in Krakow, Poland. Following this round, the top four teams will secure spots in the HSBC SVNS playoff tournament in Los Angeles, scheduled for May 3-4, where they will vie for entry into the prestigious HSBC SVNS circuit.

The Kenya Lionesses have displayed a strong start to their Challenger Series campaign, achieving a notable victory over Samoa. With Grace Okullo’s impressive performance, including a hat trick, the team is positioned favorably for their upcoming matches, aiming for a top-four finish to secure participation in the HSBC SVNS playoff tournament. Their next challenge against Poland will be crucial in determining their trajectory in the series.

Original Source: www.tv47.digital