Kenya’s national men’s sevens team, Shujaa, will begin the defence of their Safari 7s crown when the 28th edition of the tournament is held at Nyayo National Stadium from 9–11 October 2026.
Shujaa enter the tournament as four-time defending champions after beating Shogun 14–7 in the 2025 final, completing a run of four successive titles stretching back to 2021. A victory in Nairobi this year would give Kenya a fifth straight Safari 7s crown.
The 2026 tournament will feature 18 teams – 12 in the men’s competition and six in the women’s event – bringing national, invitational and development sides from Africa, Europe and North America to Nairobi.
Shujaa’s latest victory also took their overall Safari 7s title tally to 14, underlining Kenya’s long association with the tournament. Their recent four-year run includes victories over Germany in 2021 and Shogun in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 finals.
Shujaa chase a fifth straight title
The challenge in 2026 will come from a field that includes Uganda 7s, Zimbabwe 7s and Scotland 7s, as well as a number of established invitational sides.
Shogun, the familiar British-based opponents who have faced Kenya in the last three finals, will return to Nairobi. They will be joined by French Renegades, Wonder 7s, Southern California Nomads, Wellington Jaguars, GEL Squad 7s and SportPesa Fast Forwards.
Kenya will field two men’s teams, with Kenya Morans joining Shujaa in the competition.
Three other sides – Wailers, Zambia 7s and 2026 SportPesa National Sevens Circuit champions KCB Rugby – have been placed on standby should any of the confirmed teams withdraw before the tournament.
The international field gives Shujaa another opportunity to test themselves against different styles of sevens rugby before a home crowd.
Domestic clubs provide the talent
The Kenya Rugby Union has already named a provisional men’s sevens squad ahead of the new season, with players drawn from a wide range of clubs in the domestic game.
KCB Rugby has supplied nine players to the provisional setup, while Kabras Sugar has seven. Strathmore Leos, Menengai Oilers, Mwamba Rugby Club and Daystar Falcons each have three representatives, while Nakuru RFC has two and MMUST, Kenya Harlequin and Kisumu RFC have one each.
The selection underlines the role of the domestic SportPesa National Sevens Circuit in supplying players to Kenya’s national teams.
Lionesses return as defending champions
The women’s competition will also feature a defending Kenyan champion. The Kenya Lionesses reclaimed the Safari 7s women’s title in 2025 after defeating Uganda 14–10 in the final. They will return in 2026 looking to retain the trophy on home soil.
The six-team women’s field will also feature Kenya Cubs, Shibli, Uganda 7s, Tunisia 7s and Costa Blanca Barbarians.
Costa Blanca Barbarians are former champions, having won the women’s title in 2024, while Uganda and Tunisia will provide further international opposition.
The inclusion of Kenya Cubs and Shibli also provides a development pathway for younger players to gain experience alongside established international competitors.
Three days of international sevens
The 2026 Safari 7s will bring together national teams, invitational sides and development squads for three days of competition at Nyayo.
For Shujaa, the immediate objective is clear: extend their current four-title run and add a fifth consecutive Safari 7s championship to their record.
But with Scotland, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Shogun and a collection of international invitational sides in the confirmed field, Kenya will have to negotiate a competitive tournament if they are to retain the trophy.
The Lionesses face a similar task in the women’s competition as they seek to defend the crown they reclaimed in 2025.
The 28th Safari 7s runs from 9–11 October at Nyayo National Stadium, with 18 teams confirmed across the men’s and women’s competitions.
