The 2026 HSBC SVNS campaign was one filled with determination, resilience, and valuable lessons for Kenya's national men's sevens team, Shujaa. Although the ultimate goal of securing a return to the HSBC SVNS World Series was not achieved, the team showcased immense character throughout a demanding season that began in the SVNS 2 competition and culminated in the highly competitive SVNS Championship.
Building Momentum in SVNS 2
Shujaa's journey began in the SVNS 2 circuit, with the inaugural leg hosted on home soil in Nairobi. Backed by passionate home support, the team put up a spirited performance to finish third, earning 16 points and setting a strong foundation for the campaign.
The second leg took the team to Montevideo, Uruguay, where Shujaa once again impressed. Displaying consistency and determination, they secured another third-place finish and collected an additional 16 points.
The final SVNS 2 leg was held in São Paulo, Brazil. Shujaa produced their best performance of the series, advancing all the way to the final and finishing as runners-up. The second-place finish earned the team 18 points.
At the conclusion of the SVNS 2 competition, Shujaa had amassed a total of 50 points, finishing second overall and earning a coveted place in the SVNS Championship, where they would battle against some of the world's top rugby sevens nations for a chance to return to the World Series.
Hong Kong: A Promising Start
The first stop in the SVNS Championship was the prestigious Hong Kong SVNS, held from 17th to 19th April.
Drawn in Pool C alongside Australia, New Zealand, and the USA, Shujaa faced a difficult challenge from the outset. The team opened their campaign with a 14-5 loss to Australia before falling 28-12 to New Zealand. However, they responded strongly with a 17-10 victory over the USA to finish third in the pool and collect three valuable points.
The result earned Shujaa a quarter-final berth against South Africa. In a fiercely contested encounter, Kenya narrowly fell 26-22. They would, however, finish the tournament on a high note by defeating France 21-7 in the seventh-place playoff, ending the Hong Kong leg in seventh position.
Valladolid: Another Tough Test
The next destination was Valladolid, Spain, from 29th to 31st May.
Placed in Pool A alongside Australia, South Africa, and Great Britain, Shujaa once again found themselves in a highly competitive group. They narrowly lost 15-10 to Australia and 14-0 to South Africa before registering a hard-fought 12-7 victory over Great Britain.
A third-place pool finish and three more points secured another quarter-final appearance, where they met Australia once again. Unfortunately, the Australians proved too strong, claiming a 21-0 victory.
Shujaa then faced France in the seventh-place playoff but were unable to replicate their Hong Kong success, losing 14-5 and finishing the tournament in eighth place.
Bordeaux: A Challenging Finale
The final leg of the Championship took place in Bordeaux, France, from 5th to 7th June.
Drawn in Pool A alongside Fiji, Great Britain, and South Africa, Shujaa faced one of the toughest pools of the competition. The team suffered a 31-12 defeat to Fiji before losing 14-5 to Great Britain and 26-5 to South Africa.
Despite the difficult pool campaign, Shujaa remained determined. In the ninth-place semi-final, they narrowly lost 7-5 to Germany in a match decided by just two points.
The team would finally secure their first victory of the tournament in the 11th-place playoff, defeating Uruguay 26-7 to conclude the Bordeaux leg in 11th position.
A Journey of Growth and Learning
Following the completion of the three Championship events, Shujaa accumulated 16 points overall and finished ninth in the standings. Unfortunately, that result meant their dream of earning promotion back to the HSBC SVNS World Series would have to wait another season.
While the final outcome was not what the team had hoped for, the 2026 campaign was one of growth, resilience, and valuable experience. From a strong SVNS 2 campaign that earned qualification to the Championship, to competing against some of the world's best rugby sevens nations, Shujaa demonstrated their fighting spirit and continued progress on the international stage.
The team extends its heartfelt gratitude to the passionate fans who stood behind them throughout the journey, the sponsors whose support made the campaign possible, and all stakeholders who continue to invest in Kenyan rugby.
