Following an unpopular decision by World Rugby to reduce the number of participating teams in the World Rugby Sevens World Series from 12 to eight in May this year, there will be a renewed vigor for most of the affected teams to play at regional events.

One of the teams affected by the decision, Kenya affirmed their commitment to play in as many regional and invitational tournaments as possible to ensure they stayed in shape for the World Rugby’s second tier tournament whose details have not been released.

The Kenya technical bench of Kevin Wambua (head coach), Louis Kisia (assistant coach), and Andrew Amonde (strength and conditioning) were stunned by the sudden change after being kept in the dark before traveling to Los Angeles in May.

Development Side

Consequently, Kenya shall send a development side to the Africa Sevens championship to be hosted by Mauritius from June 21 to 22. The draw that was released by Rugby Africa has 12 teams in three pools of four teams each. 

Instead of conforming to the format that was remodelled by World Rugby, it could be an opportune time to settle for a competition format that suits the regional environment. Most of the teams have openly stated that the 16-team format that was abolished by World Rugby offered much more.

Anyway, despite the ongoing debate by most countries affected  by the World Rugby decision, the Africa Sevens is an opportunity for some of the countries who have had no chance to brush shoulders with the now ‘elite’ sides to showcase their talents.

Crunch Match

Kenya’s Morans have been drawn in Pool A that has defending champions Uganda, Ivory Coast and Ghana. The crunch match will be a regional rivalry between Kenya and Uganda in match number 17 on the opening day. 

South Africa shall send a development “A” team that has a good sprinkle of experienced players from the Blitzboks side. Philip Snyman who steered Blitzboks to the world championship in LA in May will use this tournament to identify more talent for the world champions. 

Ricardo Duarttee and Mfundo Ndlovo who were members of the core World Rugby Sevens World Series team have been included in this squad. Two other capped players in the team are Sebastiaan Jobb and Masande Mtshali.

Wider Playing Squad

The rest of the players are drawn from the wider playing squad among them Grant de Jager, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Gideon van Whyk, Jayden Nell, Ntsika Fisanti, Joubert Schoeman, Rowan Malgas and Joel Leotlela. 

South Africa who play in the WRSWS are not in contention for a chance to qualify for the Challenger Series which is the reward for the winners of this tournament. Also, Kenya who have already qualified for the Challenger Series are not in contention.

Missing from the line up in Mauritius are Namibia, Morocco and Senegal who could have opted to intensify their preparations for the upcoming Africa Cup in Kampala, Uganda in July.

The top two teams in each pool will automatically qualify for the knock-out quarter finals.

Nigeria: Isa Omale, Matthew Ilubee, Koyade Adedoyin, Gabriel John Etim, Joshua Addams, Oliver Kitto (captain), Anthony Egodo Tuoyo, Oghenesuvwe Obano, Frederick Henry-Ajudua, Richard Adeniyi Jones, Declan Nwachukwu, Akeem Yusuf.

Mauritius Sevens

June 21-22, 2025

Draw and fixtures

Pool A: Uganda, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Ghana

Pool B: South Africa, Burkina Faso, Zambia

Pool C: Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Tunisia.

Order of play

Zimbabwe v Tunisia, Madagascar v Mauritius, Burkina Faso v Zambia, South Africa v Nigeria, Kenya v Ivory Coast, Uganda v Ghana, Zimbabwe v Mauritius, Madagascar v Tunisia, Burkina Faso v Nigeria, South Africa v Zambia, Kenya v Ghana, Uganda v Ivory Coast, Madagascar v Zimbabwe, Zambia v Nigeria, South Africa v Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast v Ghana, Uganda v Kenya, Tunisia v Mauritius.