Only players who will feature in the 2025 SportPesa National Sevens Circuit will be considered for selection to the Kenya teams.
On Wednesday, Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Director of Rugby Paul Odera warned that the only players who get exemption from this rule of making it to Kenya Sevens and Kenya Lionesses sides are those nursing injuries or have professional contracts outside the country.
At the same time, Odera said that the union will revive the national team selection panel that has not been in place for the last three years so as to instil professionalism in the exercise.
Odera said that coaches of teams participating in the National Sevens Circuit will be required to submit seven names of the players they think should be in the national teams.
SportPesa and Kenya Breweries Limited, at the same time, renewed their sponsorship for the six-leg national circuit that will, for the first time, feature the Embu Sevens. A women's competition will feature in four legs of the series.
SportPesa partnerships manager Willis Ojwang unveiled Sh15 million sponsorship for this year’s circuit, which includes Sh9 million for the six host clubs. Last year, the betting firm gave the circuit Sh16.5 million in sponsorship.
The popular series gets underway on July 26 to 27 with the Driftwood Sevens at the Mombasa Sports Club before action moves to Nakuru Athletics Club for the Prinsloo Sevens on August 2 to 3.
Kenya Harlequin, who are the circuit defending champions, will host Christie Sevens on August 16 to 17 at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa ground, with Embu Rugby Club staging Embu Sevens on August 23 to 24 at the Njukiri Showground, Embu.
Mwamba will host the Kabeberi Sevens on September 6 to 7 at RFUEA ground, while Kisumu Rugby Club will stage Dala Sevens on September 13 to 14 at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium, Mamboleo, Kisumu.
Women's sevens will feature at Prinsloo Sevens, Christie Sevens, Embu Sevens and Kabeberi Sevens.
“I will request patience as far as the formulation of the panel of selectors is concerned because we want to get it right. We want credible people who will help the national team coaches and not individuals who will fan controversies,” said Odera. He said the inclusion of former international players in the panel was desirable.
KRU chairperson Harriet Okatch thanked SportPesa and KBL for walking the journey with rugby and for coming on board as the sponsors for the National Seven Circuit.
The overall circuit winners will pocket Sh550,000, runners up Sh300,000 and third placed Sh150,000.
Winning a leg will earn a club Sh100,000 in prize money, with runners-up getting Sh50,000 and third-placed teams Sh25,000.
“Your support marks the beginning of our journey to qualify both our men’s and women’s teams for World Rugby Sevens Division One status next year. We are more than confident that Kenya will rise again to the global stage,” said Okach.
Ojwang affirmed his company’s commitment to supporting the growth and development of the local sports and talent.
Kenya Harlequin secretary Nekesa Were, who represented clubs, thanked both SportPesa and KBL for contributing immensely to rugby development.
“For most host clubs, we use the Sevens Circuit to fund most of the team costs when the fifteens league starts. That’s why we’re calling upon partners to continue supporting the game,” she said.
