Kenya Sevens explain reason for settling on South Africa for high performance camp
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 18.10.25. | 17:19
Before the South Africa camp, the team will head to Dubai in November as part of their preparation
Kenya Sevens head coach Kevin Wambua has confirmed that the men's national rugby sevens team, Shujaa, will undergo a high-performance training camp in South Africa in January 2026 as part of their preparation for the HSBC SVNS Division 2.
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Speaking after leading Shujaa to their fourth consecutive Safari Sevens title, Wambua explained that the move is part of a deliberate strategy to ensure the team matches the competitive rhythm of its rivals ahead of the global series.
Before the South Africa camp, the team will head to Dubai in November as part of their preparation.
“We know we have three tournaments coming up in Division 2. In SVNS 1, we have six tournaments, so proper planning is key.
Safari 7s was the first step, and we are now looking at playing in Dubai in late November,” he offered.
“Then in January, we are planning to head to South Africa for a high-performance camp and a few training matches. If we do not do that, by the time we go into SVNS 2, other teams will have already played two tournaments.
We must get the same level of game time so that when we meet at the championship, we’ll be there to compete, not just to participate,” he continued.
South Africa has become a familiar development hub for Kenyan rugby. Several players, including Kabras RFC’s Jackson Siketa, Kisumu’s David Williams, Impala’s Andrew Matoka, and Mwamba’s Dennis Ndayala, have honed their skills through the Rhinos’ high-performance camp in Cape Town.
Overseas-based stars such as Collins Shikoli and Alvin Marube have also benefited from similar programs in the country.
The decision mirrors an earlier approach by the Kenya Simbas, who trained in South Africa before taking part in the Rugby Africa Cup, which served as the qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Wambua noted that consistent exposure to such high-intensity environments will bridge the gap between Shujaa and their global competitors.
His remarks follow a strong showing at the 2025 Safari Sevens, where Shujaa defeated Shogun Rugby 14-7 in the final to extend their dominance in the tournament.
Their feeder side, the Morans, also impressed by finishing third after beating Zimbabwe in the playoff.
“Shujaa winning it for the fourth time and Morans finishing third was a great outcome. If you look at Morans, we had only trained with them for two weeks, yet they trusted the system and the process. Finishing third shows how much potential they have,” Wambua offered.
Shujaa were officially relegated from the HSBC SVNS following a structural shake-up confirmed by World Rugby on Thursday, 1 May.
The new model reduced the number of core teams from 12 to just eight per gender, marking a major shift in the global rugby sevens landscape.
