Can Kenya Lionesses live up to their promise and break South Africa Blazeboks’ continental supremacy?
The Blazeboks have utterly dominated continental sevens rugby, winning a record 13 Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens titles out of 15 competitions that have been staged.
In fact, the two years they were not champions were because they did not participate.
The Lionesses and the Blazeboks have met in eight finals, with the South Africans prevailing in all.
This year’s Africa Women’s Sevens will double up as a continental qualifier for the World Rugby Division III that will be held in Dubai on November 27-29.
Top two teams from Dubai will qualify for the 2027 World Rugby Division II that will be held over three legs in Nairobi, Montevideo, Sao Paulo.
Vianca Boer, who is among four players in the South African outfit with World Rugby Sevens experience, will be eager to guide the rainbow girls to another successive title defence.
With South Africa’s place in Division II secure, Afrika has opted to give new players some valuable experience.
Naomi Amuguni of Kenya Lionesses (left) evades Yvonne Najuma of Uganda as she charges towards the try line during the Safari Sevens at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on October 11, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
“The final selection of this squad was not easy, so congratulations to those who were selected to represent us in Kenya,” said Afrika on the Springboks website.
“We opted for a younger group of players and will use this opportunity to develop them and expose them to an international tournament where they will be tested in many ways.
This is part of our pathway plan,” said Afrika.
Even as Kenya eyes a second title, they will have to contend with Lady Cranes, the Eagles of Carthage and Madagascar’s Ladies Makis who will fancy their chances in Nairobi as well.
“That is why we shall take every duel like a final. We might focus on South Africa as the only threat, yet our other rivals have vastly improved, for instance Tunisia and Madagascar,” said Lionesses co-captain Stella Wafula.
Kenya Lionesses' Pheobe Akinyi avoids tackles from Madagascar defenders during Rugby Africa Women's Cup match on May 27, 2026 at RFUEA ground.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
The Lionesses have one debutante in Cathrine Elizabeth, while two players are making a return after a long sabbatical. They are Judith Auma, who has been on-and-off for two years owing to a knee injury, and Yvette Okech, who has recovered from knee ligament surgery.
The Lionesses highlight Pool “B”, which also has Tunisia and Ghana, while South Africa are in Pool “A” with Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda. Pool “C” has Uganda, Madagascar, Mauritius and Burkina Faso.
The top two teams in each pool and the two best ranked third-placed teams will advance to tomorrow’s quarter-finals.
Tickets are retailing for Sh500 and Sh1,000, and can be obtained on tikohub.com.
9.44am Tunisia v Ghana, 10.06am Zambia v Zimbabwe, 10.28am South Africa v Rwanda
