There is no time to take stock of the debacle in Bordeaux, France after Kenya’s national seven-a-side rugby team failed to qualify for the World Rugby Sevens top tier competition next season.

On the horizon is the Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens hosted in Cascavelle, Mauritius from June 20-21. Last year, Kenya fielded a development team with a sprinkle of seasoned players but finished fourth behind the winners South Africa, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe.

In Cascavelle, Kenya has been placed in Pool C with Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and Morocco. South Africa are in Pool A and face Zambia, Nigeria and the hosts while last year’s runners up, Madagascar headline Pool B that has Uganda, Ghana, and Tunisia.

Bundled Out

Last year, Kenya was edged out 21-19 by Zimbabwe in the play off after being bundled out by Madagascar in the semi finals. 

In Mauritius, Kenya will be without five key players who play for Shujaa. Kevin Wekesa, Patrick Odongo, Samuel Asati, Nygel Amaitsa, and John Okoth will be in India to play in the second edition of the Rugby Premier League.

The tournament comes at a time when Rugby Africa contemplates launching a three-leg circuit in Uganda, Kenya and Zambia or Zimbabwe. Details of the proposed circuit have not been finalized although there have been plans to start a circuit as a result of the constant changes by World Rugby that has seen less tournaments played by fringe countries.

Logistical Nightmare

Playing tournaments in Africa presents a logistical nightmare with prohibitive traveling expenses as the main draw back. It is easier and sometimes cheaper to fly out of Africa and connect a flight back to the continent rather than connect from within Africa.

Existing tournaments that could be adopted by Rugby Africa are Victoria Falls 7s in Zimbabwe, Lusaka Sevens in Zambia and Safari Sevens in Nairobi, Kenya. On a regional consideration, the tournaments could be played on a determined format in Tunisia or Morocco (North Africa), Kenya and Uganda (East Africa), Zimbabwe and Zambia (Central Africa, Madagascar and Mauritius (Southern Africa).

The proposed three-leg series recognizes the centrality and possible ease of travel between East and Central Africa that shall drastically reduce expenses. Some of the 

How they finished last year: South Africa, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Mauritius, Morocco (did not participate in 2025).

Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens 2026

Cascavelle, Mauritius 

Pool A: South Africa, Zambia, Nigeria, Mauritius.

Pool B: Madagascar, Uganda, Ghana, Tunisia.

Pool C: Zimbabwe, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Morocco.

Order of playDay one: Kenya v Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe v Morocco, Uganda v Ghana, Madagascar v Tunisia, Zambia v Mauritius, South Africa v Nigeria, Kenya v Morocco, Zimbabwe v Burkina Faso, Uganda v Tunisia, Madagascar v Ghana, Nigeria v Mauritius, South Africa v Zambia, Burkina Faso v Morocco, Zimbabwe v Kenya, Madagascar v Uganda, Ghana v Tunisia, Zambia v Nigeria, South Africa v Mauritius.