Details Over KRU's Ambitious HSBC 7s Leg in Nairobi in 2026 Revealed

The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has officially submitted a bid to host a leg of the World Rugby HSBC 7s Series, raising hopes of bringing the prestigious global event to Nairobi for the first time ever.

KRU is targeting an opportunity to stage one round of the new Division 2 series — where both the Kenya 7s men’s and women’s teams will be competing — following the introduction of World Rugby’s revamped sevens model, which begins after the 2025 season.

KRU Chief Executive Officer Tom Odundo confirmed that the bid was formally submitted and that the Government has thrown its full support behind the plan.

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“World Rugby had in June requested teams to bid to host one leg of the HSBC 7s, either Division 1 or 2,” Odundo said. “We bid to host Division 2, and the Government gave us a letter of support.”

“The final legs have not been announced. It is not confirmed 100 percent, but we did make the bid. We will be getting feedback over the next two weeks, but the Government is behind us and has allocated an amount for us to hold a successful event.”

Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya reaffirmed the government’s commitment, saying the hosting would align perfectly with Kenya’s growing sports infrastructure.

“The Rugby Union requested to host, and we approved it so we expect to host a leg in February in Nairobi, which will be good timing because Talanta Stadium will be ready, so there is no cause for alarm.”

If approved, Nairobi will be part of World Rugby’s new three-tier HSBC SVNS 2026 model, which introduces Divisions 1, 2, and 3 to enhance global competitiveness and provide a clear promotion pathway.

The top-tier HSBC SVNS Series will feature six men’s and women’s rounds — in Dubai, Cape Town, Singapore, Australia, Vancouver, and the USA — culminating in a three-event World Championship to be held in Hong Kong, Valladolid, and Bordeaux between April and June 2026.

The Division 2, which Kenya has applied to host, will feature three global legs between February and March 2026, with teams such as Kenya, USA, Uruguay, and Germany expected to take part.

Under the new structure:

Division 1 includes eight men’s and eight women’s teams competing in six regular-season events.

Division 2 features six teams per gender battling across three tournaments.

Division 3 hosts eight teams per gender in a single Challenger event.

The revamped system offers a promotion and relegation pathway, allowing teams to advance from regional qualifiers to global championship contention within a single season — a move expected to increase exposure and strengthen the sport ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

If successful, Kenya’s bid would not only mark a historic first for the country but also provide a massive boost for local rugby development and tourism, positioning Nairobi as a major hub for international sevens rugby.