Kenya Shujaa and Lionesses sweep Safari Sevens to claim historic back-to-back titles

Kenya completed a clean sweep of the 2026 Safari Sevens at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, with the Shujaa claiming a sixth consecutive men’s title and the Lionesses making history by winning back-to-back women’s crowns for the first time in the tournament’s 28-year history.

The men’s final produced a rare all-Kenyan showdown, with the Shujaa overcoming the national development side, the Morans, 24-5. The match was far from straightforward — Shujaa star Samuel Asati was sent to the sin bin inside the opening minute, leaving the defending champions a man down and the scoreboard blank at half-time. Once Asati returned, the Shujaa took control decisively, with tries from Rayvon Ambale, Victor Mola, Festus Shiasi and John Okoth sealing the win. Harrison Mauve earned a consolation try for the Morans.

The Shujaa’s route to the final had not been without difficulty. They were held to a 21-all draw by South Africa’s Forward Legends in the opening round before victories over Scotland and Uganda steadied their campaign. Wins over invitational sides Wonder 7s and the French Renegades in the knockout rounds set up the all-domestic final. The French Renegades claimed bronze with a 17-15 win over Shogun 7s in the third-place playoff.

The Morans had their own impressive run to the final, navigating a 12-all draw with Zimbabwe in the pool stages before defeating the Forward Legends and then Shogun 7s 31-10 in the semifinals.

In the women’s competition, the Lionesses faced stiffer international competition than in previous editions, with Tunisia and Uganda both making deep runs. Tunisia pushed the Lionesses to a 19-17 defeat in the semifinal but recovered to claim bronze — a significant milestone for the growth of women’s rugby in the country.

Uganda’s Lady Cranes, having not faced the Lionesses in the group stage, arrived at the final as a genuine threat. The Lionesses ultimately asserted their class, pulling away to win 22-5 and secure the historic back-to-back title.

The near-capacity crowd at Nyayo National Stadium witnessed one of the strongest editions of the Safari Sevens, with the level of competition from international and invitational sides underlining the tournament’s growing stature on the African rugby calendar.