Rugby enthusiasts across Kenya are buzzing with excitement as SportPesa announced a monumental KES 15 million injection into the 2025 National Sevens Circuit. This significant investment sees the betting firm retain its title sponsorship, officially renaming the circuit the SportPesa National Sevens Circuit.
The news was met with immense gratitude from the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU). KRU Chairperson Harriet Okatch lauded SportPesa for their unwavering commitment, emphasizing the timely nature of the sponsorship. “Your support couldn’t have come at a better time,” stated Okatch. “This circuit marks the beginning of our journey to qualify both our men’s and women’s teams for HSBC Tier 1 status next year. We are more than confident than ever that Kenya will rise again on the global stage.”
Adding to the fervor, Tusker, through KBL Head of Mainstream Beer Christine Kariuki, reaffirmed their continued support as the alcoholic beverage and entertainment partner. “Rugby is a sport that brings Kenyans together, and that spirit of community and passion is at the heart of our brand,” Kariuki remarked, promising to help create memorable experiences through sport, music, and responsible celebrations.
Willis Ojwang of SportPesa underscored their commitment to nurturing local talent, highlighting the circuit’s success in feeding players into the national Shujaa team. “We are proud that from the SportPesa 7s, we saw the team that went ahead to be crowned the Africa 7s Champions, booking their place into the Olympics and afterwards rose fast to return into the HSBC series,” Ojwang proudly stated.
The KES 15 million will be strategically allocated, with KES 3 million directly benefiting the six host clubs – a crucial lifeline as highlighted by Nekesa Were of Kenya Harlequins. A further KES 6 million will cover live stream production, KES 2.3 million for prize money across all legs and overall winners, KES 3 million for support and administrative costs, and KES 700,000 for team merchandise.
With attractive prize money for both division one, two, and women’s categories, and substantial overall winnings, the circuit is set to be fiercely competitive. The action kicks off with the Driftwood 7s on July 26th and 27th, culminating with the Dala 7s on September 13th and 14th. This promises to be a thrilling season for Kenyan rugby, setting the stage for a triumphant return to the global elite.
