By Peris WambuKenya sports betting writer
Updated 30 October 2026
The Safari Sevens is Kenya’s international rugby sevens tournament, first played in Nairobi in 1996 and organised by the Kenya Rugby Union. Shujaa, Kenya’s national sevens side, retained the title at the Nyayo National Stadium in October 2026, beating the Kenya Morans 24-5 in an all Kenyan final. This guide covers the 2026 result, the teams and the tournament’s history.
Safari Sevens key facts
- Organiser
- Kenya Rugby Union
- First played
- 1996
- 2026 venue
- Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi
- 2026 dates
- 9 to 11 October
- 2026 men’s champion
- Shujaa (Kenya)
- 2026 field
- 12 men’s and 6 women’s teams
2026 Safari Sevens result
Shujaa beat the Kenya Morans 24-5 in the 2026 Safari Sevens final at the Nyayo National Stadium, keeping the title they won the year before. The first half finished 0-0, then Rayvon Ambale, Victor Mola, Festus Shiasi and John Okoth scored tries for Shujaa after the break; the Morans replied with one try. The French Renegades beat Shogun 17-15 in the third place playoff.
Teams at the 2026 Safari Sevens
Twelve men’s sides and six women’s sides took part, with Shujaa and the Lionesses defending titles on home ground.
| Draw | Teams |
|---|---|
| Men | Shujaa, Kenya Morans, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Scotland 7s, Wonder 7s, French Renegades, Southern California Nomads, Shogun and others |
| Women | Kenya Lionesses, Kenya Cubs, Uganda, Tunisia and others |
| Standby | Wailers, Zambia 7s, KCB Rugby |
How the Safari Sevens works
Teams play pool matches first, and the top sides go through to knockout rounds for the main cup, with further trophies for the teams that drop out earlier. Matches are seven a side over two halves of seven minutes, so a single yellow card or a fast start can decide a game.
The tournament comes straight after the domestic National Sevens Circuit and is the last big sevens event of the Kenyan year before the Kenya Cup fifteens season. It is also the one event where Kenyan sides face touring invitational teams at home.
Safari Sevens history
The Rugby Patrons Society created the Safari Sevens in 1996, and the Kenya Rugby Union later took it into its calendar. It was played at the RFUEA Ground until 2010, moved to the Nyayo National Stadium and then the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, and was not held in 2017. Kenyan teams have won more titles than any other nation, and invitational sides such as Samurai International won in 2015 and 2018.
Latest Safari Sevens news
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Shujaa and Morans Top Their Pools at the Safari 7s
Shujaa and Kenya Morans both won their pools at the Safari 7s and go into the Cup quarter-finals…
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Eighteen Teams Confirmed for the Safari Sevens at Nyayo in October
The Kenya Rugby Union has confirmed eighteen teams for the Safari Sevens at the Nyayo National Stadium from…
Safari Sevens FAQ
Who won the 2026 Safari Sevens?
Shujaa, Kenya’s national sevens team, won the 2026 Safari Sevens men’s title. They beat the Kenya Morans 24-5 in the final at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Where is the Safari Sevens played?
The 2026 Safari Sevens was played at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi from 9 to 11 October. The tournament has also been held at the RFUEA Ground and at Kasarani.
When did the Safari Sevens start?
The first Safari Sevens was played in 1996. It was created by the Rugby Patrons Society and is now run by the Kenya Rugby Union.
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