Kenya results at the 2001 World Cup

 

 

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IRB.COM) Saturday 1 November 2008

Kenya, Zimbabwe and hosts Tunisia secured the three qualification places on offer at the Africa region qualifier on Saturday to complete the 24-team men's line up at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009.

The Kenyans lived up to their billing as favourites by winning the tournament, beating Zimbabwe 26-14 in the final when the pressure was off both sides with their place in Dubai next March already confirmed.

Kenya, a 'core' team on the IRB Sevens World Series, had guaranteed their qualification by beating hosts Tunisia 22-12 in the first Cup semi final before Zimbabwe overcame Namibia 29-10.

That left Tunisia and Namibia to battle it out for the one remaining ticket to Dubai in the third place playoff, the host nation coming through with a 26-12 victory to spark excited celebrations from the team in Tunis.

Namibia's efforts in beating Uganda 27-19 in a hard fought Pool B game earlier in the day that confirmed their place in the Cup semi finals, ultimately took its tool as their RWC Sevens 2009 dreams ended.

Madagascar won the Plate final to finish fifth overall, avenging a slender 21-20 loss to Zambia on day one to triumph 17-7, having early given eventual runners up Zimbabwe a scare with a 13-12 loss.

Captain Humphrey Kayange receives the trophy

Exciting day of rugby

Seventh place went to Uganda, who bounced back from the disappointment at missing out on the Cup semi finals and the chance to join their women's team at RWC Sevens 2009 with a 19-12 victory.

"It was an exciting day's rugby and the standard of rugby compared to 2005 has increased considerably," said RWC Sevens Tournament Director Beth Coalter. "In the final between Kenya and Zimbabwe it wasn't until the second half that Kenya broke away.

"Namibia and Uganda was a very hard fought game and Madagascar have been a real joy to watch, they were so enthusiastic and if they had had longer to prepare then they would have been a bigger threat.

"If you'd seen the Tunisians when they got through you would have thought they'd won the World Cup they were so excited. I think having the whole thought of getting into a Rugby World Cup means so much to these teams.

 

 

"Namibia and Uganda was a very hard fought game and Madagascar have been a real joy to watch, they were so enthusiastic and if they had had longer to prepare then they would have been a bigger threat.

"If you'd seen the Tunisians when they got through you would have thought they'd won the World Cup they were so excited. I think having the whole thought of getting into a Rugby World Cup means so much to these teams.

"We have got a great universal spread of teams now for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009. We have the best of each of the regions. It's been a long road, but now everyone is going to be working towards the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai." 

The 24 men's teams for RWC Sevens 2009 are Fiji, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Australia, France, Scotland, Argentina (automatic qualifiers), host Union Arabian Gulf and regional qualifiers Uruguay (South America), Portugal, Wales, Georgia, Ireland, Italy (Europe), Samoa, Tonga (Oceania), Japan, Hong Kong (Asia), USA, Canada (North America), Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tunisia (Africa).

Day two results

09:40 A - Senegal 21-33 Tunisia 2
10:00 B - Zambia 24-5 Botswana
10:20 A - Uganda 19-27 Namibia
10:40 B - Zimbabwe 13-12 Madagascar
11:00 A - Kenya 26-19 Senegal
11:20 B - Tunisia 38-0 Zambia
11:40 A - Namibia 12-27 Tunisia 2
12:00 B - Madagascar 19-19 Botswana

14:00 Plate semi final - Uganda 12-26 Namibia
14:20 Plate semi final - Zambia 17-0 Senegal
14:40 Cup semi final - Kenya 22-12 Tunisia
15:00 Cup semi final - Zimbabwe 29-10 Namibia

15:20 Seventh place playoff - Uganda 19-12 Senegal
15:40 Plate final - Madagascar 17-7 Zambia
16:00 Third place playoff - Tunisia 26-12 Namibia
16:20 FINAL - Kenya 26-14 Zimbabwe

Final ranking

1. Kenya (RWC Sevens qualifier)
2. Zimbabwe (RWC Sevens qualifier)
3. Tunisia (RWC Sevens qualifier)
4. Namibia
5. Madagascar
6. Zambia
7. Uganda
8. Senegal
9. Botswana