Kenya Lionesses face their moment of reckoning at the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens this weekend at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa ground, Nairobi.
The tournament will double up as the African qualifiers for the World Rugby Sevens Women’s Division III that will run alongside Dubai Sevens from November 27-29 in the United Arab Emirates.
Only one team from the continental championships will qualify for the Division III event that already has five other continental representatives -- Mexico, Colombia, China, Samoa and Poland.
South Africa, who will be in Nairobi to defend their Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens title, will not be fighting for a qualification sport as they are in the Division II competition this year.
Kenya Lionesses team celebrates after clinching silver at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Madagascar by defeating Uganda 49-0 on June 15, 2025.
Photo credit: Pool
South Africa are in Pool “A” with Zambia, Zimbabwe and Rwanda, while Kenya highlights Pool “B” that has Tunisia, Ghana and Egypt, while Pool “C” contains Uganda, Madagascar, Mauritius and Burkina Faso.
The two teams that will reach the final in Dubai will advance to the World Rugby Women’s Division II, which will be staged over three legs -- Nairobi from January 23 to 24, Montevideo from February 20-21 in Uruguay and São Paulo on February 27-28 in Brazil.
The Division II championship will be held concurrently with the men’s competition that will also feature Kenya Shujaa.
Kenya Lionesses were relegated to the World Rugby Women’s Division III this year after they finished fifth in the World Rugby Women’s Division II held in Nairobi, Montevideo and São Paulo.
The top four teams from Division II will once again qualify for the 2027 World Rugby Championships that will be held over three legs. Four automatic slots for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will be up for grabs.
While Lionesses failed to reach the 2026/2027 World Rugby Championships, Kenya Shujaa qualified after finishing second in Division II and eventually finished ninth at the world event.
Lionesses team manager, Camilyne Oyuayo, reckons that inadequate preparations led to the Lionesses’ poor run this year, with co-skipper Stella Wafula revealing that lack of self-drive and lapses at crucial moments cost them.
Kenya Lionesses Hellen Wanjiru sprays a pass during a team training session as her mates Maxine Abuga (left) and Stella Wafula look on during a team training session at RFUEA ground, Nairobi on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation
Oyuayo noted that Kenya Lionesses had qualified for the 2025/2026 World Rugby Sevens only for World Rugby to change the format to see them start in Division II this year.
