Kenya to host opening leg of World Rugby Sevens Division 2 series
Kenya’s Patrick Odongo plays against Spain in Singapore Sevens, the fifth leg of the 2024/2025 World Rugby Sevens series, on April 6 at the National Stadium in Singapore.
Kenya will host one of the three legs of the 2026 World Rugby Sevens Division II tournament, featuring both men's and women's competitions. The leg will be referred to as HSBC Nairobi Sevens.
HSBC, a British universal bank and financial services group, has sponsored the World Rugby Sevens Series since 2014.
Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Chief Executive Officer Thomas Odundo disclosed that Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium will stage the first leg on February 14- 15 next year.
The series will head to South America for a back-to-back championship with Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay, staging the second leg on March 21 to 22, with Sao Paulo, Brazil, staging the last on March 28 to 29.
The HSBC Nairobi Sevens will be the second World Rugby Sevens event to be staged in Africa after the South Africa Sevens, which has rotated in cities across Africa’s largest economy. Cape Town has hosted the leg since 2015.
The good news follows the visit by World Rugby director in charge of competition, Nijel Cass, during the 15th edition of the Africa Women’s Sevens held at the RFUEA from November 15 to 16 this year.
Cass held discussions with Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Salim Mvurya, Rugby Africa president Herbert Mensah and KRU chairperson Harriet Okach concerning the hosting of the World Division II event.
Read: Herbert Mensah backs sevens version to grow Kenya, Africa’s rugby
It was the second time Kenya was hosting the women’s event after the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos County, staged the 2014 edition.
Odundo said Kenya will not pay any fee to host the event, but will take care of the costs for the event.
“We welcome the move by World Rugby to pick on Nairobi since it clearly shows the faith and confidence they have in the country’s capability to organise events,” said Odundo.
Odundo said that it will once again present a big test to Kenya in its ability to host more major events in future, having successfully staged the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy in 2009 and 2023 at the RFUEA and Nyayo National Stadium, respectively.
“This milestone presents a significant opportunity for Kenya Rugby and the nation at large. Hosting this event will strengthen our global presence, expand commercial potential, and inspire the next generation of players,’ explained Odundo.
The men’s Division II has Kenya, United States of America (USA), Uruguay and Germany, while the women’s Division II has Kenya, Brazil, China and Spain.
The teams will be joined by losing finalists in each of the World Rugby Division III championships scheduled for January next year in Dubai.
World Rugby changed the World Sevens Series format on the eve of the Los Angeles Sevens in May this year, splitting the World Rugby Series to three divisions- I, II and III.
That saw Kenya Sevens and Kenya Lionesses remain in Division II despite winning the play-offs that could have seen them promoted to World Rugby Sevens.
The top four teams after the three-legged men's and women’s championships will join the eight teams from the World Rugby Sevens Division I in the World Championship Series, which will feature three events.
They are Hong Kong (April 17-19), Valladolid, Spain (May 29-31) and Bordeaux, France (June 5-7).
The winners will be crowned world champions, with the four teams that will finish at the bottom being relegated to Division II, with the remaining staying for the 2026/2027 World Rugby Division I Series.
“We are committed to delivering an exceptional, world-class event that showcases elite rugby, celebrates our fans, and highlights the unique cultural vibrancy of Kenya,” said Odundo.
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