Nairobi will stage the opening leg of the revamped World SVNS Series Division Two on 14–15 February, the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has confirmed, marking another major international rugby event for the capital.
KRU Chief Executive Officer Thomas Odundo welcomed the announcement, describing it as a significant moment for the country’s sevens programme.
“We are delighted to have been selected to host the first leg,” Odundo said in a statement to KRU Media, adding that the union is preparing to welcome teams and fans to the city.
The decision follows World Rugby’s unveiling of a redesigned HSBC SVNS competition model, rolled out after the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The expanded structure seeks to grow rugby sevens globally while reducing costs and improving competitiveness as the sport builds toward the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
New three-tier format
Starting in 2026, the series will shift from 10 to 13 events and adopt a three-division system:
Division 1
- Eight men’s and eight women’s teams
- Six tournaments, each played over two days
Division 2
- Six men’s and six women’s teams
- Three events, starting with Nairobi
Division 3
- A Challenger event with eight teams per gender, drawn from regional qualifiers
Clear promotion pathway
World Rugby says the new format offers a direct route from regional competition to the global stage within a single season.
The top 12 teams (eight from Division 1 and four from Division 2) will feature in end-of-season SVNS World Championship Series events.
Teams that finish 9th–12th at the 2025 Los Angeles Playoff will join Division 2 for the 2025/26 season, while those placed 13th–16th will drop into their regional qualification pathway.
Why Nairobi matters
For Kenya, hosting the Division Two opener not only confirms the country’s continued relevance in global rugby sevens but also offers local fans a first look at the revamped structure.
It will also provide the Kenya Sevens team with a chance to compete at home under the new system, as the nation seeks a return to the top tier after recent struggles.
