Kenya is set to sprint into the global rugby spotlight. On 14–15 February 2026, Nairobi will host an HSBC SVNS Division Two tournament, making Kenya only the second African nation after South Africa to stage a World Rugby Sevens international event.
Both Kenya’s men’s and women’s sevens teams will take the field on home soil as part of the 2026 season, ushering in a landmark moment for the sport across the continent.
Historic win for Nairobi
In 2025, World Rugby confirmed Nairobi as a host city for the HSBC SVNS Division Two series, a key stop in the newly reimagined three-tier SVNS structure designed to bring fans closer to the pulse of sevens rugby.
The decision follows World Rugby’s Director of Competitions Nigel Cass visiting the RFUEA Grounds during the 2025 Africa Women’s Sevens, where talks with Kenya’s sports leadership sealed the city’s place on the calendar.
Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa, captured the mood: Kenya’s sevens teams have long carried the nation’s flag across the globe, and now the country will host a major international stage.
Harriet Okach, Chairperson of the Kenya Rugby Union, pledged a world-class event that will showcase elite rugby and Kenya’s cultural vibrancy while inspiring the next generation of players.
The new SVNS era
The refreshed SVNS format introduces a clear, competitive pathway across three tiers, accelerating the rise of emerging nations and delivering more high-stakes clashes for fans.
The structure guarantees full gender parity at every event, with men’s and women’s competitions running side-by-side and equal participation terms for both.
Sevens has become a proven talent factory: 48 athletes who developed on the Sevens circuit featured at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, underscoring the format’s role in producing world-class players across both sevens and fifteens.
Championship roadmap and global stops
For the first time, a three-destination SVNS World Championship will crown the 2026 champions across 12 women’s and 12 men’s teams.
The Championship kicks off in Hong Kong and concludes with a dramatic European double-header in Valladolid and Bordeaux.
The full SVNS 2026 calendar also includes iconic stops such as Dubai, Cape Town, Singapore, Perth, Vancouver, and New York, promising two-day festivals of speed, skill, and spectacle.
Key SVNS 2026 highlights
• World Championship start: Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens
• European finale: Valladolid and Bordeaux back-to-back
• Global festival stops: Dubai, Cape Town, Singapore, Perth, Vancouver, New York
SVNS 2 and SVNS 3 Details
World Rugby confirmed the SVNS 2 destinations and dates, with Nairobi joining Montevideo and São Paulo as hosts. Several teams have already secured places in SVNS 2, while the final slots will be decided through SVNS 3 competition.
SVNS 2 schedule
• Nairobi: 14–15 Feb 2026
• Montevideo: 21–22 Mar 2026
• São Paulo: 28–29 Mar 2026
SVNS 2 confirmed teams
• Women: China; Kenya; Spain; Brazil; plus two from SVNS 3
• Men: Kenya; USA; Germany; Uruguay; plus two from SVNS 3
SVNS 3
• Dubai: 17–18 Jan 2026 — a winner-takes-all qualifier where regional champions battle for promotion.
What this means for Kenya and Africa
Hosting an SVNS event is more than a tournament; it’s a statement. Nairobi’s inclusion signals growing recognition of African rugby’s talent and potential.
The event will boost Kenya’s global sporting profile, open commercial opportunities, and create a live spectacle that blends elite sport with local culture and fan passion.
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin summed it up: SVNS 2026 is the launchpad to LA 2028, and with fixtures locked in across three tiers, the race to the top has never been more thrilling.
The party kicks off in Dubai
HSBC SVNS 2026 was launched in Dubai with leaders and captains gathering ahead of the opening weekend.
The series promises not only elite rugby but festival atmospheres, with music and entertainment amplifying the on-field drama and turning each stop into a full-scale celebration of the sport.
Kenya’s turn to host in Nairobi will be a defining chapter in that story, a homecoming for sevens fans and a bold new stage for African rugby to shine.
