Kenya to host a leg of the inaugural Africa 7s Series
Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 22.05.26. | 16:24
The format is expected to mirror the SVNS 2 competition model, rewarding consistency across the circuit rather than isolated results
Kenya is set to host one of the legs of the newly-launched Africa 7s Series.
The continental sevens competition will be staged across three countries as Africa moves closer to establishing its own structured rugby circuit.
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The proposed series will be hosted in Kenya, Uganda, and either Zambia or Zimbabwe.
Kenya has submitted its long-running Safari 7s tournament as one of the competition's official legs.
If finalized, the initiative will introduce a structured format where teams accumulate points across the three tournaments, with the overall champion crowned based on combined performance.
The format is expected to mirror the SVNS 2 competition model, rewarding consistency across the circuit rather than isolated results.
The Confederation of African Rugby is currently weighing Zambia or Zimbabwe as the third host nation, while Kenya and Uganda are widely expected to retain their slots on the calendar.
Kenya’s inclusion is anchored on the Safari 7s, one of Africa’s most established sevens tournaments, which has long attracted both regional and international sides.
Kenya Rugby Union Director of Fixtures Leslie Mwangale said the proposal is designed to solve one of African rugby’s biggest challenges: the lack of consistent competition for national teams.
“In Kenya, we have two strong teams: Shujaa and Morans, but they do not get enough playing time. At the same time, you can see that the Safari 7s is doing very well,” Mwangale said.
He added that the Africa 7s Series would help bridge that gap by expanding the number of competitive opportunities available to teams across the continent.
“Because of that, we want to present a proposal to Rugby Africa to establish some form of a 7s circuit within the continent to help develop the game. Currently, the only tournament most African countries participate in is the Rugby Africa Sevens. If a team does not qualify, they do not get the chance to play any other 7s tournaments across the continent,” he said.
Mwangale explained that Kenya’s Safari 7s already offers a working model for what the continental series could achieve in terms of both development and sustainability.
For the inaugural edition, discussions are centered on a three-leg structure to keep the calendar manageable while ensuring competitive balance across regions.
The series has also been welcomed as a timely intervention given Africa’s growing competitiveness on the global stage.
South Africa’s Blitzboks currently leading the men’s HSBC SVNS World Championship, while Kenya continues to push for consistency in its bid to secure a place among the world’s elite.
The Confederation of African Rugby is also expected to draw top teams from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Tunisia, with South Africa likely to feature an Emerging Springboks side.
Kenya, meanwhile, plans to field two teams, continuing its Safari 7s model to widen player exposure and development pathways.