Kenya Lionesses coach on role international players will play at HSBC SVNS 2
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 12.02.26. | 15:01
With overseas-based talent blending with locally active players, the coach believes the balance within the squad will be vital heading into the home tournament
Kenya Lionesses head coach Simon Odongo has welcomed the return and influence of internationally exposed players in the squad, saying their experience will be crucial as the team prepares for the HSBC SVNS Division 2 tournament in Nairobi.
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The tournament is slated for Saturday, 14 to Sunday, 15 February at the Nyayo National Stadium.
The squad has been strengthened by the presence of experienced campaigners, including France-based Grace Okulu and centre Stellah Wafula, who recently returned from a high-performance stint in the United States.
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Wafula had been away from national duty while attending the Rhinos High-Performance Camp, a professional rugby development program run by Rhinos Rugby in partnership with the Rugby Tens Championship (R10C).
Based in San Clemente, California, and parts of South Africa, the program is designed to prepare elite male and female players for professional and international rugby through intensive training, high-level competition, and holistic player support across the 15s, 7s, and Tens formats.
Her absence saw her miss key assignments, including the Safari 7s, where Kenya edged Uganda 14-10 to lift the title, and the Africa Women’s 7s, which ended in a 22-0 loss to South Africa.
The centre's physical presence and experience were notably missing in those outings, making her return a timely boost as the Lionesses build towards the tournament.
“I think they bring much-needed experience. Stella spent four months in the USA with the Rhinos at a high-performance camp, so whatever skills she developed there, combined with what she already had before leaving the country, add to her already vast experience,” Odongo started.
“We also have an experienced squad overall, because the ladies who remained in the country played two events without her: the Safari 7s and the Africa Cup in Nairobi.
Grace Okulu, of course, is a seasoned professional, currently playing for one of the top clubs in France,” he continued.
The Lionesses are also boosted by the presence of long-serving playmaker Grace Okulu, who joined French Elite 2 side Racing 92 in September 2025 ahead of their ongoing campaign that runs until June 2026.
She linked up with the club after impressing in the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, where she played a key role in Kenya’s historic first title.
Okulu has been a pillar of the national team since 2016, representing Kenya in both 15s and sevens competitions, including the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Rugby Africa tournaments, the Elgon Cup, and the WXV3 event in Dubai in 2023.
The former Nakuru RFC playmaker has also previously featured for Japan’s MIE Pearls Women’s Rugby Football Club.
With overseas-based talent blending with locally active players, the coach believes the balance within the squad will be vital heading into the home tournament.
“So, they definitely give the squad a significant boost. For us, it’s about knowing how to manage them and how to manage expectations, especially among those who were not part of the team,” he said.