Kenya makes history hosting World Rugby Sevens Series as Shujaa and Lionesses battle for promotion at Nyayo Stadium

The roar at Nyayo National Stadium on Valentine's weekend 2026 was unlike anything Kenyan rugby had heard before. For the first time in the nation's history, Kenya was hosting a leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series — not a regional qualifier, not a continental championship, but a full-fledged international tournament featuring the world's best teams in the HSBC SVNS Division Two.

On February 14-15, Kenya Shujaa (men) and Kenya Lionesses (women) took the pitch in front of home crowds, competing for promotion to the elite HSBC SVNS Series while making history as the second African nation, after South Africa, to host a World Rugby Sevens international event.

The significance was not lost on anyone present. "Kenya has earned the admiration of the rugby world with their eye-catching performances on the HSBC SVNS circuit. Now it's Kenya's turn to host the world," World Rugby declared in confirming Nairobi as one of three host cities for the Division Two series, alongside Montevideo (Uruguay) and São Paulo (Brazil).

The road to hosting: from bid to reality

Kenya submitted its hosting bid immediately after World Rugby invited expressions of interest in June 2025, part of the governing body's newly created three-tier global sevens structure designed to bring fans closer to the action than ever before. The new system places the elite HSBC SVNS Series at the top, SVNS 2 as the crucial middle bridge, and SVNS 3 as the entry level.

World Rugby's Director of Competitions, Nigel Cass, visited Nairobi during the 2025 Africa Women's Sevens held at the RFUEA Grounds from November 15-16, inspecting both Nyayo Stadium and Talanta City grounds. Discussions were held with Cabinet Secretary for Sports Salim Mvurya, Rugby Africa President Herbert Mensah, and Kenya Rugby Union Chairperson Harriet Okach regarding Kenya's readiness to host.

Kenya Rugby Union CEO Thomas Odundo said World Rugby evaluated Kenya's track record hosting major tournaments, including the World Rugby Junior Trophy in 2009, the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy in 2023, and the Africa Women's Sevens. "They were satisfied because we have previously hosted these events successfully," Odundo noted.

The confirmation came at a perfect time for Kenya, whose national teams — Shujaa and the Lionesses — had been placed in Division Two for the 2026 season, giving both sides a rare opportunity to compete for promotion on home soil, backed by local supporters and familiar conditions.

How Kenya qualified: the Challenger pathway

Both Kenyan teams earned their places through World Rugby's qualification pathway, also called the Challenger route.

The Lionesses topped the 2025 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, finishing first overall with 56 points after a dominant three-leg campaign. They sealed their rise at the Los Angeles promotion playoffs, edging South Africa 17-14 in the final to clinch a place in the 2026 HSBC SVNS 2. "The Lionesses have prepared well, including training in Europe and fine-tuning structures, and the team spirit and mental readiness are strong as we head into the tournament. The training camps in Spain and Belgium have been very beneficial," head coach Simon Odongo said before the Nairobi tournament.

Shujaa advanced to the promotion playoffs following mixed results in the Challenger Series. Despite a tough pool stage at the Los Angeles playoffs, they finished second in their group to book a place in the must-win final, where they delivered a commanding 24-5 victory over Canada to secure their spot in the 2026 HSBC SVNS 2 Series. "All the teams have prepared well. There are no weak sides at this level, so we will take it one match at a time and see where we stand at the end of the weekend," Shujaa head coach Kevin Wambua said.

The Nairobi tournament: fixtures and opponents

Kenyan fans poured into Nyayo Stadium across the two-day event to watch their teams compete against world-class opposition.

Shujaa faced a fierce international showdown in the men's pool, locking horns with USA 7s, Uruguay 7s, Germany 7s, Canada 7s, and Belgium 7s. On Saturday, February 14, Shujaa opened against Canada at 14:30, followed by a match against Germany at 18:44. On Sunday, the final day, they faced Uruguay at 12:50 before capping off their campaign with a thrilling encounter against USA 7s at 17:02.

In the women's pool, the Lionesses welcomed Brazil 7s, China 7s, Spain 7s, South Africa 7s, and Argentina 7s. The Lionesses' fixtures included a revenge match against South Africa — the team they had beaten in the Los Angeles playoff final — and tests against emerging rugby powers Spain and Argentina. On Sunday, the Lionesses took on Argentina at 11:44 before concluding their fixtures against Spain at 15:56.

Teams competing in the SVNS 2 Series earn points across each leg, with standings determined by cumulative performance. At season's end, the top four SVNS 2 teams qualify for the SVNS World Championship events, where they face off against leading Division 1 sides. This pathway opens the door for emerging rugby nations to climb toward elite sevens competition, strengthening the global growth of the game.

Historical context: Shujaa's rise, fall, and comeback

Kenya Shujaa was a core team in the elite Division 1 series for several seasons, particularly between 2016 and 2020. That period was highlighted by their historic Singapore Sevens triumph in 2016 — the first World Rugby Sevens Cup win by an African team, a victory that sent shockwaves through the rugby world and proved that African teams could compete at the highest level.

After losing core status, Shujaa have been battling their way back through the Challenger and SVNS 2 pathway, determined to reclaim their lost glory and a place among the world's elite. The Nairobi tournament represented not just a homecoming, but a statement of intent: Kenya rugby is on the rise again, and it is doing so on home soil.

What this means for Kenyan rugby and the diaspora

For Kenya's rugby-loving diaspora — spread across the UK, South Africa, the United States, Canada, and Australia — the Nairobi tournament was a moment of immense pride. Social media buzzed with #KenyaRugby and #NairobiSevens trending globally as fans who had grown up watching Kenya compete abroad finally saw the world come to Nairobi.

Nairobi's selection also underscores the city's growing reputation as a sports destination. In recent years, Kenya has hosted international athletics, rallying, and continental rugby events, but the arrival of an HSBC SVNS leg elevated the country to a new global platform. It is expected to boost local tourism, increase visibility for Kenyan rugby, and inspire a new generation of young athletes.

For Shujaa and the Lionesses, the tournament was not just another leg of the series — it was a chance to chase promotion in front of a home crowd and strengthen Kenya's long-standing love affair with rugby sevens. Whether they achieved promotion will be determined by their cumulative performance across all three Division Two stops (Nairobi, Montevideo, and São Paulo), but the fact that they competed at home, in front of thousands of roaring fans, was already a victory in itself.

Kenya rugby had arrived on the world stage — not as guests, but as hosts.

Reporting drawn from Kenya News Agency, The Star Kenya, Breaking Kenya News, Rugby Afrique.