Shujaa, the Kenya national seven-a-side rugby team are keen to battle for a direct qualification to the next Olympics as they prepared for the next tournament of the World Rugby Sevens Championship in Valladolid, Spain from May 29-31, 2026.

The realization that destiny is in their hands has seen the team intensify their preparations to avoid falling victim to the World Rugby ‘Russian Roulette’ game in recent times that has seen several changes in the format of the shorter version of the game. Whenever you talk to the players or the technical bench, they are in sync that their aim is to finish among the top four.

Recently, World Rugby has made significant changes to the composition of the various competitions under their belt. One of the most significant was the introduction of a three-tier category resulting in competitions at the third, second and top tier.

Regional Champions

The third tier focuses on competition among regional champions with a view of promotion to the second tier within the same season and eventually the three-leg championship involving the eight top tier teams. At the end of the championship, the top eight teams qualify for next season’s top tier competition that has six legs.

In 2023, Kenya was relegated from the top tier that initially had 16 teams but was reduced to 12 before assuming the current format of eight. This transformation happened in three seasons and has received a wide debate by the rugby fraternity. Rugby fans are yet to understand the complex nature of the new format.

The understanding after Kenya was relegated was that their path to regaining promotion to the top tier – of 12 teams – was to finish among the top four teams in the second tier competition – Challenger Series. This placed them nearer to promotion if the again finished among the top four in a mini-qualifier where they faced the bottom four teams in the 12-team top tier.

New Format

They did and returned to the top tier after only one season out when World Rugby introduced a one-tournament championship in Madrid, Spain. The understanding was that the same format would be applicable next season when Kenya finished ninth. But, World Rugby pulled the rug from under their feet in LA by creating an elite top tier comprising eight top teams! 

The above scenario is what Kenya would like to avoid by going all out to challenge for a top four position if not winning one of the two remaining tournaments in Spain and France. At the end of the second tier competition in Sao Paulo, Brazil where Kenya finished second to the USAto qualify for the championship, Shujaa stated they wanted to finish among the top eight to qualify for the top tier.

In Hong Kong, Kenya finished seventh, a statement about their intentions. The next two tournaments are crucial and on arrival from Hong Kong, the squad revised their ambitions and aimed for a top four finish.

Different Mindset

To demonstrate their seriousness and backed by a solid performance in Hong Kong, Kenya has acquired the services of Chris Brown, a reputable rugby brain who has a good knowledge of the team and has been instrumental in steering the team to greater heights. With Brown in the system, Shujaa will head to Valladolid, Spain with a different mindset.

In Valladolid, Shujaa have been placed in a tough Pool A where they face South Africa in a continental derby, Australia and Great Britain. Already, Kenya has good knowledge on South Africa and Australia after facing them in Hong Kong. Playing Great Britain is another story as this is the team that denied them a top eight spot.

Changing Rules

At the back of their mind, Shujaa acknowledged the changing rules that also saw them knocked out of a fifth/sixth position play-off after World Rugby introduced another new rule favoring top tier teams depending on their results at the pool stage. 

What could be clear is that the final tournament in Bordeaux, France could see a direct qualification to the semi-finals from the pool stage since it comes within a week of the tournament in Spain. 

This format has been previously used by World Rugby in the top tier competition following the completion of the first tournament in Dubai and the next in Cape Town, South Africa.

World Rugby Sevens Series Championship

Valladolid, Spain, May 29-31, 2026.

Women

Pool A: New Zealand, Japan, Argentina, Brazil.

Pool B: Australia, USA, Fiji, South Africa.

Pool C: France, Canada, Spain, Great Britain.

Order of Play:USA v Fiji, Australia v South Africa, Japan v Brazil, New Zealand v Argentina, Canada v Spain, France v Great Britain, USA v South Africa, Australia v Fiji, Japan v Argentina, New Zealand v Brazil, Canada v Great Britain, France v Spain, Fiji v South Africa, Australia v USA, Brazil v Argentina, New Zealand v Japan, Spain v Great Britain, France v Canada.

Men

Pool A: South Africa, Australia, Kenya, Great Britain.

Pool B:  Argentina, New Zealand, Uruguay, Germany.

Pool C: Spain, Fiji, France, USA.Order of Play: New Zealand v Uruguay, Argentina v Germany, Australia v Kenya, South Africa v Great Britain, Fiji v France, Spain v USA, New Zealand v Germany, Argentina v Uruguay, Australia v Great Britain, South Africa v Kenya, Fiji v USA, Spain v France, Uruguay v Germany, Argentina v New Zealand, Kenya v Great Britain, South Africa v Australia, France v USA, Spain v Fiji.