Kenya women’s national sevens captain Skipper Chajira is bullish Lionesses can secure a historic Division One berth says the Lionesses are burning with belief and hunger as they set sights on punching a historic ticket to the HSBC Sevens Series Division One.
After a sterling 2024/25 campaign that saw them secure promotion to the second tier of international women’s sevens, the Lionesses now have their eyes firmly fixed on the next frontier, the global elite. Their road to promotion was a tale of grit and flair.
Kenya reigned supreme in the HSBC women's Challenger Series, topping the standings with 56 points, ahead of South Africa (54) and Argentina (48).
At the Los Angeles promotion playoffs, the Lionesses endured a rough start, falling 33–14 to Spain and 28–10 to Brazil, before roaring back with a narrow 7–5 win over Colombia to book a place in the knockout rounds. They then sealed their place in the HSBC series Division Two with a spirited 17–14 victory over South Africa in the final.
Now, with that hard-earned momentum, Chajira says the team’s fire is only growing stronger. “Our goal is to qualify for the HSBC Division One. The fire is still there within the team,” said the skipper.
Chajira revealed that preparations have been in full swing as the side gears up for both the Division Two campaign and the Africa Cup. “Our preparations have been focused on the Division Two as well as the Africa Cup in November,” she added.
The 2026 HSBC Sevens Series kicks off in Dubai on November 29–30 before heading to Cape Town on December 6–7 for the second leg. The Women’s Rugby Africa Cup will take place on November 14–17 at RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.
For Chajira, earning promotion to the top-tier Sevens circuit will be a powerful statement of purpose. “The goal for us is to qualify for HSBC not because of what we get, but for who we are and what we want to achieve in our lives,” she said. Their road to glory begins this weekend at the Safari Sevens at Nyayo Stadium, a stage where redemption beckons.
Last year, the Lionesses were stunned 24–10 by Spain’s Costa Blanca Barbarians in the finals held at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos. This time, they’ll face a fierce field featuring defending champions Costa Blanca Barbarians, Uganda, Belgium, Zimbabwe, Cubs, Shogun and Spain.
Chajira emphasised that discipline and tactical execution will be key to success. “We must stick to our game plan and do what we’ve been working on in training. If we do that, good results will definitely follow,” she affirmed. She also hailed the impact of emerging players who have injected youthful energy and ambition into the squad. “The new girls are showcasing different skills and have so much heart. The love they have for the game is inspiring. They want to play at the highest level,” she noted.
