Kenya stun Blitzboks then edge Madagascar in extra time to claim 2026 Mauritius Sevens title

Kenya claimed the 2026 Mauritius Sevens title in Cascaville in the opening weekend of October, defeating defending champions Madagascar 15-12 in a final that required extra time to separate the sides — a result that strengthens the Shujaa’s push for a place in the 2026-27 HSBC SVNS Series.

Madagascar, the only men’s side to enter the final unbeaten, drew first blood through a Jean Marc Raoelinirina try in the corner. Kenya hit back with scores from Gabriel Ayimba and Ray Ambale to take the lead, only for Rado Randrianalisona to level at 12-12 and force extra time. The Madagascans’ discipline ultimately proved their undoing, with Glacious Nganya converting a penalty in the closing moments of extra time to hand Kenya a decisive three-point advantage.

The Shujaa’s path to the final was equally eye-catching. They shut out the world champion Blitzboks 15-0 in the semi-finals — a scoreline that underlines their growing ambition at sevens level.

South Africa took third place in the men’s competition, defeating Burkina Faso 24-14. The South African women’s programme also had cause for celebration, with the Tuks Women’s representative side defeating hosts Mauritius 22-10 in the women’s final. Morocco claimed the women’s bronze medal, beating Réunion 21-0.

For Kenya, the victory carries particular significance given where they currently sit in the SVNS structure. Locked into the SVNS 2 tier, the Shujaa qualified for the SVNS World Championship earlier in 2025 and came close to upsetting the Blitzboks at the Hong Kong Sevens before losing 26-22 in the quarter-finals. Despite strong performances in Hong Kong and Valladolid, Kenya finished eleventh in Bordeaux — one competition point behind the United States, who claimed the final SVNS Series qualification spot.

The Mauritius Sevens result now serves as a pre-season marker as the Shujaa target that qualification place in the cycle ahead. Both Kenya and the Tuks Women will next travel to Nairobi for this weekend’s Safari Sevens, with the tournament marking its 30th anniversary.