Rugby Africa has confirmed the new format for the 2026 Africa Men’s Sevens Series, which will be delivered through two complementary competitions following the postponement of the continental event originally scheduled in Mauritius in June.
Approved by the Rugby Africa executive committee, the revised structure will feature the SVNS 3 2026/2027 Africa Qualifiers in Uganda and the Mauritius Sevens Tournament 2026 in Mauritius.
The new format aims to strengthen the competitiveness of men’s sevens rugby in Africa, provide more opportunities for national teams to compete at a high level, and reinforce the pathway connecting African rugby to the international sevens structure.
The SVNS 3 2026/2027 Africa Qualifiers will open the 2026 Africa Men’s Sevens Series and will take place in Uganda on 26 and 27 September 2026. Hosted by the Uganda Rugby Union, the competition will bring together six African men’s sevens teams competing for qualification to World Rugby SVNS 3 2026.
The invited unions are:
- Fédération Malgache de Rugby
- Zimbabwe Rugby Union
- Uganda Rugby Union (Host Union)
- Zambia Rugby Union
- Ghana Rugby Football Union
- Fédération Tunisienne de Rugby
The team finishing first at the SVNS 3 2026/2027 Africa Qualifiers will qualify for World Rugby SVNS 3 2027, providing the African representative with an opportunity to compete on the international sevens stage.
The final results of the competition will also determine the teams’ positions from 3rd to 8th in the Africa Men’s Sevens Ranking 2026. The tournament winner will be ranked 3rd in Africa, while the lowest-ranked team will occupy 8th position.
The Mauritius Sevens Tournament 2026 will take place on 3 and 4 October 2026 in Mauritius and will serve as a major showcase of African men’s sevens rugby. Hosted by the Mauritius Rugby Federation, the tournament will feature eight teams competing for continental honours.
The invited unions are:
- South African Rugby Union
- Kenya Rugby Union
- Mauritius Rugby Federation (Host Union)
- Nigeria Rugby Football Federation
- Fédération Burkinabé de Rugby
- Fédération Royale Marocaine de Rugby
- Fédération Sénégalaise de Rugby
- TBC
Africa Men’s Sevens Ranking 2026
The final Africa Men’s Sevens Ranking 2026 will be determined through the revised structure of the 2026 Africa Men’s Sevens Series.
The ranking framework will be as follows:
- South African Rugby Union and Kenya Rugby Union will retain the 1st and 2nd positions respectively, regardless of their results at the Mauritius Sevens Tournament 2026, as both teams are already part of the global SVNS competition pathway.
- Teams competing in the SVNS 3 2026/2027 Africa Qualifiers will determine positions 3rd to 8th according to their final tournament results.
- The teams participating in the Mauritius Sevens Tournament 2026 shall be ranked from 9th to 13th such that the winner of the tournament is ranked 9th while the bottom placed team is ranked 13th
Through this revised structure, Rugby Africa continues to invest in the growth, development, and competitiveness of men’s sevens rugby across the continent. The 2026 Africa Men’s Sevens Series will provide unions with a valuable platform to test their teams, develop players, and continue building towards international success. Rugby Africa looks forward to welcoming participating unions, players, officials, and supporters to Uganda and Mauritius for a celebration of African rugby sevens.
