A few months into his first season in top-flight rugby, 21-year-old Harrison 'Serevi' Mauve is already drawing attention and rave reviews in the abridged version of the game.
The speedster was the top try scorer at the 2026 Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) National Sevens Circuit, with 33 tries.
This try count is remarkable because Mauve played for lowly Kisumu, which finished 13th in the circuit. Outscoring star players from the established clubs with an average haul of five tries per leg in the six-leg series did not go unnoticed, and he duly received his maiden Kenya Shujaa call-up last week.
How does it feel being the man of the moment in the fiercely competitive rugby sevens environment of Kenya?
Harrison Muave (left) is tacked by teammate David Nyangige during a Kenya Sevens training session at the RFUEA grounds Nairobi on September 24, 2026.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
“It’s sinking slowly. At times my heart skips a little bit trying to fathom the magnitude of that award I collected as the top try scorer,” said Mauve, a second year Bachelor of Community Health student at the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (Mmust).
Mauve was the top scorer at Embu Sevens, the fifth leg of the circuit, with 11 tries and was placed second in the last leg of Christie Sevens with nine tries, one behind Victor Mola of Strathmore University Leos.
“You see, it’s unbelievable when I receive applause from some of the Kenya Sevens players that I have admired like Patrick Odongo,” said Mauve after Nation Sports caught up with him during a Kenya Sevens team training session at RFUEA ground on Thursday.
“There is no substitute for speed in sevens rugby. Mauve has it. He is young, explosive, and has raw talent,” said Kenya Sevens head coach Kelvin Wambua.
“He is clinical, but there are a few elements of his game that we need to work on, especially on game management,” said Wambua.
“I am trying to imagine where he will be in the next eight months in his career path. He is an exciting talent. We want to help him maximize his potential,” said Wambua.
Mauve is nicknamed after Fijian legend Waisale Serevi, widely regarded as the greatest rugby sevens player in history.
“Mauve has got good balance and tremendous start-stop play, just like Serevi had,” said Wambua. “He has a lot to learn in playmaking and I believe he will reach there with good guidance.”
Wambua noted that Mauve, who has been training with the team since Thursday last week, is a player he wants to fast-track into the Shujaa system.
Harrison Muave during a Kenya Sevens training session at the RFUEA grounds Nairobi on September 24, 2026.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
“The atmosphere at Kenya Sevens training is different from the club level. Things here are well structured and it’s a challenge I am embracing fully,” said the 78kg Mauve, who has run a hand-timed 11.80 seconds in the 100m.
Mauve dreams of playing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games at the World Rugby Sevens Series Division One.
But Kenya Sevens must first qualify for these tournaments, and he must first make the final selection.
“I know competition is stiff and tough but I believe in myself. I have proved that in my first season in club competition,” said Mauve.
Mauve first started training with Kabras Sugar Rugby Club after finishing his KCSE Mukumu Boys High School in 2024. As he battled to break into Kabras establishment his high school coach Allan Kasiti, lured him to the lakeside city side in July this year. Kasiti is the Kisumu deputy coach.
Harrison Muave (left) with teammate David Nyangige during a Kenya Sevens training session at the RFUEA grounds Nairobi on September 24, 2026.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
But his rugby origin goes back to when he was a Form One student at Mukumu in 2021 when his uncle, Bonventure Lumiti, a former rugby player at school, pulled him to the game.
At that time, Mauve was a promising football and hockey striker.
With his pace, he easily fitted in centre and winger positions and was instrumental in helping Mukumu Boys reach the Kenya Secondary School Games Regional championships rugby sevens competition twice in 2022 and 2023.
