“The victory was not only emotional but historic,” said team captain Grace. “The girls worked so hard. Division 2 is just the beginning—we’re aiming for the international stage.”
Kenya’s national rugby sevens teams, Shujaa and the Lionesses, have secured places in the 2026 HSBC Division 2 after contrasting but equally determined campaigns.
Shujaa’s 2024–2025 season was a tough one, marked by inconsistent performances. They kicked off in Dubai with a 10th-place finish after falling to Uruguay, followed by slight improvement in Cape Town, where they placed 7th. However, their form dipped again in Perth and Canada, finishing 10th and last respectively. In Hong Kong, they returned to 10th place after a loss to South Africa in the 9th place playoff.
Their standout moment came in Singapore, where they reached the Cup final and finished second after a hard-fought 21-12 loss to Fiji—offering a glimpse of their potential. Heading into the final leg in Los Angeles, Shujaa sat 9th overall, with their spot in the main series under threat due to changes in the 2026 structure. Despite a mixed pool stage in LA, they closed the campaign with a convincing 24-5 win over Canada to seal a place in Division 2.
“It has been a tough season for us,” said Head Coach Kevin Wambua. “Our goal was to remain in the Series, but after the changes, we focused on securing Division 2. We’ve achieved that, and we’ll use it as a springboard.”
The Lionesses, on the other hand, made history. Competing in the HSBC Challenger Series, they dominated the first two legs in South Africa and topped the standings with 40 points. They maintained momentum in Poland, again finishing top and qualifying for the playoffs in Los Angeles.
Despite a rocky start in LA, where they won only one of their three pool matches, the Lionesses advanced to the playoff final against South Africa. Trailing 14-10 in the dying moments, Freshia scored a stunning try, and the successful conversion clinched a dramatic 17-14 win.
“The victory was not only emotional but historic,” said team captain Grace. “The girls worked so hard. Division 2 is just the beginning—we’re aiming for the international stage.”
With both teams now set for Division 2, Kenyan rugby enters a rebuilding phase fueled by resilience, ambition, and a vision for greater glory.