Shujaa Win Bronze as Kenya Lionesses Finish Fifth at Nairobi HSBC SVNS 2
By Daily Report KE | Updated October 1, 2026
Kenya’s men’s rugby sevens team, Shujaa, finished third at the opening leg of the HSBC SVNS 2 series at Nyayo National Stadium, while the Kenya Lionesses placed fifth in the women’s competition.
Shujaa’s Nairobi Results at a Glance
- Kenya won four of its five matches in Nairobi.
- Shujaa beat Uruguay, Belgium, Germany and Canada.
- Their only defeat came against the United States, 21-5.
- George Ooro was named the men’s player of the tournament.
How Shujaa Finished Third
Kenya entered the final round of matches with a strong record after four consecutive wins. The loss to the United States left Shujaa level on 12 points with Germany and the USA, with the final standings placing Kenya third.
The result gave Shujaa a podium finish in the first Nairobi leg of the newly introduced Division Two competition and kept the team in contention as the series moved to its next stop.
Lionesses Finish Fifth
The Kenya Lionesses won one match and lost four, finishing fifth in the six-team women’s competition. Argentina won the women’s title, followed by South Africa and Spain.
What Came Next
The second leg of the HSBC SVNS 2 series was scheduled for Montevideo, Uruguay, on March 21-22, 2026. The Nairobi results therefore served as the opening benchmark for both Kenyan teams in the new competition format.
Related: Kenyan athletes deliver strong results at the 2026 Zurich Diamond League.
What the Nairobi Podium Meant for Shujaa
Finishing third gave Kenya a solid start in the Division Two series but also showed how small the margins were. Shujaa finished level on points with the United States and Germany, making every result and points difference important in the final standings.
Ooro’s Tournament Award
George Ooro’s player-of-the-tournament recognition highlighted Kenya’s individual quality during the Nairobi leg. Awards are secondary to the team result, but they can indicate which players are carrying form into later rounds of a short sevens series.
What the Lionesses Needed to Improve
The women’s fifth-place finish left the Lionesses with a clearer gap to close. In a six-team field, one win from five matches meant Kenya needed more consistency in possession, defensive organisation and conversion of scoring opportunities before the next leg.
The Montevideo stop therefore offered both teams a different challenge: Shujaa needed to turn a podium start into sustained series performance, while the Lionesses needed to convert lessons from Nairobi into more wins.
