On 15th and 16th November, the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi will become the heart of African women’s sevens rugby as Kenya’s Lionesses open their Kenya Lionesses Rugby Africa Women’s 7s campaign against Côte d’Ivoire. With the Kenya Rugby Union hosting the continental showpiece, the stage is set for two days of speed, skill, and national pride in front of a passionate home crowd.
The opening assignment carries both opportunity and responsibility. A winning start would cement early momentum for Kenya, and it would also send a message to the rest of the field that the hosts are ready to seize the moment on home soil. Côte d’Ivoire present the immediate hurdle, and the Lionesses know that clarity in execution across the first kickoffs often dictates the rhythm of a sevens weekend.
Home soil and recent momentum
Kenya arrive with confidence after a stunning triumph at the 26th edition of the Safari 7s. That victory does more than decorate the trophy cabinet, it reinforces belief in combinations, decision making, and the commitment that fuels a champion mindset.
Playing at the RFUEA Grounds comes with an intangible boost. Familiar conditions, faces in the stands, and the energy that swells with every carry can raise a team’s floor and ceiling. The Lionesses have spoken through performances in recent weeks, and the next step is to translate that form into continental dominance over a concentrated two day schedule.
What the tournament looks like
The Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens gathers 12 teams in Nairobi for a festival of rugby that rewards tempo and composure. The field features Tunisia, Egypt, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Madagascar, Uganda, Kenya, and South Africa. It is a blend of pedigree, rising contenders, and programs hungry to make a statement.
Kenya are drawn in Pool B with Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Defending champions South Africa, record 12 time winners, headline Pool A alongside Zimbabwe and Mauritius. Uganda, runners up at the recent Safari 7s, lead Pool C with Zambia and Burkina Faso. Madagascar, Tunisia, and Egypt complete Pool D, a group that promises sharp tactical battles across the first day.
Key fixtures and first day cadence
Day one kicks off at 9.00 AM EAT with Tunisia facing Egypt in the tournament opener. The Lionesses take the field at 12.44 PM against Côte d’Ivoire, then return at 4.06 PM to meet Ghana. Sevens demands quick resets, and how a side handles the stretch between matches often shapes the late afternoon outcomes.
Those time windows will matter. Start well in the early afternoon, recover efficiently, then strike with conviction in the second pool match. The rhythm is familiar and the margins are tight, and in Nairobi every burst of field position can tilt the narrative.
History and the weight of the jersey
Kenya’s continental ambitions are rooted in history and hunger. The Lionesses last lifted the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens title in 2018 in Gaborone, Botswana. Last year they finished runners up after a 17–10 defeat to South Africa in Ghana, a result that lingers as both reminder and motivation.
Since the tournament’s inception in 2006, only three nations have claimed the crown, South Africa with 12 titles, Tunisia in 2012, and Kenya in 2018.
South Africa arrive as the team to beat, not only as defending champions but as standard setters through a dozen triumphs. For the Lionesses, this tournament is another chance to close the gap, then surpass it, and to do so at home would add a special layer to any potential success.
Opponents in focus
Pool B presents distinct challenges. Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire bring different looks that can test structure and tempo, and that variation is part of the sevens puzzle. Kenya’s job is to dictate pace, trust the system, and turn territory into scoreboard pressure against both opponents.
Across the bracket, South Africa in Pool A will set a high benchmark, and their presence often elevates the competitive standard. Uganda, leading Pool C after finishing second at the recent Safari 7s, will relish the chance to convert regional improvement into continental impact. Madagascar, Tunisia, and Egypt in Pool D give the draw real balance, which should make the knockout stages both unpredictable and compelling.
Three storylines to watch
- The power of home support, how the RFUEA Grounds atmosphere translates into energy and execution for the hosts,
- The momentum effect from recent triumphs, whether winning form at the Safari 7s sharpens decision making under pressure,
- The champions in the crosshairs, how teams adjust to the presence of a 12 time winner in South Africa.
What will define the Lionesses run
First, clarity in pool play. Sevens tournaments reward sides that establish identity early, control kickoffs, and reduce unforced errors. The Lionesses have the benefit of recent winning habits, and the task is to imprint that same discipline in the opening exchanges.
Second, adaptability. Opponents make tweaks, and the ability to adjust between matches is a hallmark of successful weekends. Kenya will look to leverage composure, the bench, and set piece accuracy in those pivot moments.
Third, belief. The recollection of 2018 success and the sting of last year’s final defeat can coexist as fuel. Harnessed properly, that history becomes a springboard rather than a weight, and on home soil it can be a decisive edge.
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Schedule snapshot for day one
- Opener at 9.00 AM EAT, Tunisia vs Egypt,
- Kenya vs Côte d’Ivoire at 12.44 PM,
- Kenya vs Ghana at 4.06 PM.
Pools and participating teams
Full list of teams
- Tunisia
- Egypt
- Zambia
- Burkina Faso
- Ghana
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Zimbabwe
- Mauritius
- Madagascar
- Uganda
- Kenya
- South Africa
Tournament pools
- Pool A South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mauritius
- Pool B Kenya, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire
- Pool C Uganda, Zambia, Burkina Faso
- Pool D Madagascar, Tunisia, Egypt
The meaning of playing at RFUEA Grounds
Home venues carry memory and expectation. The RFUEA Grounds have seen generations of Kenyan rugby, and a continental tournament intensifies that connection between team and supporters. Every cheer adds to the pulse, every defensive stand can feel a little taller when the crowd is leaning forward with you.
For the Lionesses, these moments at home are about more than points on a board. They are about confirming identity, proving that recent form travels across pressure moments, and showing that the jersey’s legacy is a living, breathing commitment.
Why the opening match matters
The first match against Côte d’Ivoire is a compass. It points toward rhythm, urgency, and confidence for the remainder of the weekend. A solid platform there simplifies the path, keeps fuel in the tank, and sets the terms for the second pool encounter with Ghana.
Openers can be nervy, and that is where structure helps. If the Lionesses can apply early pressure, own the restarts, and embrace the collective rhythm that lifted them at the Safari 7s, they can shape the narrative rather than chase it.
The wider continental picture
Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens has matured into a true barometer of regional growth. The list of champions is short, which underscores how challenging it is to climb the mountain. That also highlights the significance of Kenya’s 2018 triumph, a milestone that affirmed potential and set standards for the future.
With South Africa bringing a dozen titles into Nairobi, the field will measure itself against that benchmark. The Lionesses have been close, last year’s final in Ghana being a painful example, and the pursuit now is about polishing the margins that convert promise into podiums.
What success would look like this weekend
Success is layered. Win the pool, secure a favorable knockout path, and keep the core principles intact under fatigue. Along the way, find the big play in the tight moment, the turnover that flips momentum, and the finish that lifts teammates and fans together.
More than anything, success in Nairobi would be a statement that Kenyan women’s sevens can set the pace of the continent again. It would honor the journey since 2018 and the lessons from last year, and it would demonstrate that form, belief, and the embrace of a home crowd can align into something memorable.
