Spain’s men and Costa Blanca Barbarians (women) as well as Belgium women’s teams arrived on Tuesday night for this year’s 29th Safari Sevens to be held at the Nyayo National Stadium from Friday, October 10, 2025 to Sunday October 12, 2025.

The men’s team confirmed for this weekend’s tournament are Apache Rugby, French Renegades, Kenya Commercial Bank, Kenya Morans, Kenya Shujaa, Reunion, Uganda, Shogun, UK Select, Walukuba Barbarians, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

In the women’s category, last year’s winners in Machakos Costa Blanca Barbarians (Spain), Belgium, Kenya Cubs, Kenya Lionesses, Tunisia, Shogun, Uganda and Zimbabwe complete the line up for eight teams of what is expected to be a fiery contest.

Ooro Captains Shujaa

George Ooro, who recently joined KCB from Strathmore University captains Shujaa with Samuel Asati as his assistant. Others are Kevin Wekesa, Vincent Onyala, Dennis Abukuse, Gabriel Ayimba, Nygel Amaitsa, Chrisant Ojwang, Patrick Odongo, Jackson Siketi, Floyd Wabwire, Festus Shiasi, and William Mwanji. Kenya will also field two teams in the women’s category.

Simon Odongo, the Kenya Lionesses coach said that 24 players were selected from a pool of 37 and have been split in two teams with 12 rookies, three who will play in the Lionesses and the rest make up the Kenya Cubs. This will ensure each player has an equal chance of putting their hands up for selection to the squad for the Africa Women’s Sevens tournament in November.

However, Grace Okulu who is in France, Stella Wafula and Diana Owino (USA), Judith Auma, Phoebe Atieno (recovering from injury), Yvette Oketch are unavailable. The women’s competition has familiar faces who have been in the Challenger Series and Tunisia who recently camped in Kenya.

Named in Kenya Lionesses are: Naomi Amuguni, Charity Nillah, Noreen Muritu, Christabel Lindo, Sheila Chajira, Sinaida Nyachio, Edith Nariaka, Faith Ochieng, Marvel Oswego, Faith Live, Janet Okello and Freshia Awino. Kenya Cubs: Nelly Chikombe, Ann Akinyi, Gloria Matasio, Maureen Chebet, Diana Mideva, Maxine Abuga, Ann Njeri, Ann Namunyak, Angel Salamba, Rafa Achando, Merisha Negesia, Tracy Musungu.

Key Omission

Perhaps the key omission for this year’s event are South Africa who have been part of the championship since inception in 1996. Some of the South African players who have participated in Safari Sevens have progressed to coaching, among them Paul Treau, Mzwandile Stick, Cecil Africa, Philip Snyman, and Renfred Dazel. 

Kwaaga Smith and Cheslin Kolbe, key members of the Springbok’s team that last weekend added the Rugby Championship to their shelves have also played at Safari Sevens.

As a result of this year’s re-organization of World Rugby bSevens World Series, regional competitions such as Safari Sevens will be crucial to providing a competitive environment for teams to play in the Challenger Series, a second tier World Rugby Sevens tournament. The Challenger Series is a pathway to the top tier Series which has only eight teams.