Kenya Sevens: Who Do Shujaa Face Next for a Place Back in the Top Flight?

Kenya Sevens kept alive their dream of making it back to the World Sevens Series when they finished second at the third and final of the 2026 HSBC SVNS 2 in Sao Paulo, Brazil last weekend.

Shujaa had an impressive run but lost narrowly 14-12 to Belgium in the final, their only loss in Brazil, missing out on the overall title.

However, it was a great outing as they collected 18 points to finish the round with 50 points, second only to the United States of America, who have 52 points, to seal their place into the World Championship, another playoff round that will determine whether they play in the top flight next season.

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Kenya had enjoyed a flawless run, having started by beating Germany 38-7, thrashed Canada 40-0, secured a 26-14 over Uruguay, before demolishing the USA 31-14 after which they fell to Belgium.

Kevin Wambua’s men, alongside USA, Germany and Uruguay, have now sealed a place in the three-leg SVNS Championship, where they will face the top the eight teams currently playing in the top flight, the SVNS Division 1.

From the three rounds, the 12 teams will be looking to finish in the top eight as that is what is required for a place in the World Series next season.

It will not be easy as the current teams in the SVNS Division 1 are series leaders South Africa, second-placed Fiji, third-placed Australia, New Zealand, France, Argentina, Spain and Great Britain.

The three legs will be in Hongkong (April 17-19), Valladolid, Spain (May 29-31) and Bordeaux, France (June 5-7) and Kenya, just like USA, Germany and Uruguay, have to square it off with these big boys and ensure they are in the top eight to make a return to the top flight.

Kenya last played top flight sevens rugby in the 2024-25 season before World Rugby changed the rules which reduced World Series teams from 12 to eight, and that saw Shujaa drop to the HSBC SVNS 2 just when they were about to play a promotion playoff in Los Angeles in May 2025.