From Nairobi to Bordeaux: Shujaa’s determined quest through 2026 HSBC SVNS campaign
Kenya’s national men’s rugby sevens side, Shujaa, experienced a demanding yet inspiring 2026 HSBC SVNS season that highlighted the team’s resilience and steady development.
Although they ultimately fell short of securing promotion back to the HSBC SVNS World Series, the squad displayed remarkable commitment throughout a journey that stretched from the SVNS 2 circuit to the elite Championship stage.
Strong foundations in SVNS 2
You might also like
The season began in Nairobi, where Shujaa enjoyed the advantage of competing before their home supporters during the opening SVNS 2 event earlier in the year. The team delivered a commendable performance, securing third place and collecting 16 points to launch their campaign on a positive note.
Their next assignment took them to Montevideo, Uruguay. Once again, the Kenyans showed consistency and grit, matching their Nairobi achievement with another third-place finish and an additional 16 points.
The final SVNS 2 tournament unfolded in São Paulo, Brazil, where Shujaa produced their most impressive display of the series. They advanced to the championship match and finished runners-up, adding 18 points to their tally.
By the end of the three-leg competition, Kenya had accumulated 50 points, placing second overall and securing qualification for the SVNS Championship, where the world’s leading sevens nations awaited.
Encouraging start in Hong Kong
Shujaa’s championship campaign commenced at the renowned Hong Kong SVNS tournament held in April 2026.
Drawn alongside Australia, New Zealand, and the United States in Pool C, the Kenyan side faced a daunting challenge. They opened with a 14-5 defeat to Australia before suffering a 28-12 loss against New Zealand. However, they bounced back impressively by overcoming the USA 17-10, a victory that saw them finish third in their group and earn three championship points.
That result booked a quarter-final showdown with South Africa. Kenya put up a spirited fight but narrowly lost 26-22. They recovered well in the placement match, defeating France 21-7 to claim seventh place and end the tournament on a positive note.
Difficult assignment in Valladolid
The second Championship stop was Valladolid, Spain, at the end of May 2026.
Competing in Pool A alongside Australia, South Africa, and Great Britain, Shujaa once again found themselves among formidable opposition. A narrow 15-10 defeat to Australia was followed by a 14-0 loss to South Africa. Nevertheless, the team secured a crucial 12-7 victory over Great Britain.
Finishing third in the pool earned Kenya another quarter-final appearance and three additional points. Unfortunately, Australia once again stood in their path and recorded a 21-0 win.
Shujaa then faced France in the seventh-place playoff but could not repeat their earlier success, falling 14-5 and settling for eighth position overall.
Bordeaux brings a tough conclusion
The final championship tournament was staged in Bordeaux, France, in early June 2026.
Kenya was grouped with Fiji, Great Britain, and South Africa in one of the competition’s strongest pools. Their campaign began with a 31-12 loss to Fiji, followed by defeats to Great Britain (14-5) and South Africa (26-5).
Despite the setbacks, the team continued to compete with determination. In the ninth-place semi-final, they narrowly lost 7-5 to Germany in a tightly contested encounter.
Shujaa eventually signed off from Bordeaux with a convincing 26-7 victory over Uruguay in the 11th-place playoff, securing their only win of the tournament and ending the event in 11th place.
After all three championship tournaments were completed, Kenya had amassed 16 points and finished ninth in the overall standings. The outcome meant that promotion back to the HSBC SVNS World Series remained out of reach for another year.
Even so, the campaign provided valuable experience and demonstrated the team’s continued progress. From excelling in SVNS 2 to challenging some of the world’s strongest rugby sevens nations, Shujaa showed determination, character, and a willingness to compete at the highest level.
