Lionesses turn attention to rebuilding after missing SVNS championship promotion
The Kenya rugby national women’s team, the Lionesses, are preparing for a new chapter after ending their HSBC SVNS2 campaign on a mixed note in Sao Paulo on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Impressive Sao Paulo outing
Although the team delivered an impressive display in Brazil and claimed a silver medal, they narrowly missed out on securing promotion to the championship level, finishing fifth overall across the three rounds.
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The outcome leaves the squad with both satisfaction and frustration, pride in their determination and noticeable improvement during the series, yet disappointment at missing qualification by a small margin.
Promotion was determined by the combined standings from all legs, and finishing fifth ultimately ruled the Lionesses out of advancing to the SVNS Championship tier this season.
Going forward, the team will now concentrate on the regional qualification route, starting with the Africa Women’s Sevens tournament scheduled to be hosted in Kenya in November 2026. This event will serve as the first opportunity for the Lionesses to begin their push back to the international stage.
Winning the Africa Women’s Sevens will be vital, as it would earn them a place in the SVNS3 division. From there, they must secure a top-two finish to gain promotion back to the SVNS2 level.
Despite the challenge that lies ahead, the Lionesses remain focused on improving their performance and strengthening their squad. Lessons learned from the recent SVNS2 season, along with the confidence gained from their strong showing in Brazil, are expected to help the team regroup and return more competitively in the next phase of their journey.
For their male counterparts, Shujaa, the groupings for the forthcoming Hong Kong SVNS tournament have now been finalised ahead of the event set to take place from Friday, April 17, to Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Kai Tak Sports Park.
Hong Kong 7s draw
After earning a place at the upcoming World Championship, following a successful Sao Paulo outing, Shujaa have been placed in a demanding Pool C alongside top-tier opponents Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
This draw presents a significant challenge for the Kenyan side as they aim to perform strongly at one of the most prestigious stops on the international sevens circuit after the Sao Paulo outing, which they saved the best for last.
