Kenya Lionesses forward Edith Nariaka/ CHARLENE MALWA Edith Nariaka has credited discipline, self-belief and growing competition in women’s rugby for shaping her development as she looks ahead to more opportunities with the Kenya Lionesses on the international stage.
Nariaka, who has become one of the consistent figures in the national women’s sevens setup, says the rapid growth of women’s rugby in Kenya is evident through the rising standards in local competitions and the increasing opportunities available to young players.
“It has really grown, especially women’s rugby. There is more competition now and getting the chance to play HSBC SVNS at home for the first time was a big achievement for us,” said Nariaka.
The Lionesses have enjoyed steady progress in recent years, highlighted by their triumph in the 2025 World Rugby Challenger Series, where they finished top overall before sealing promotion through the Los Angeles playoffs.
They are currently in residential camp at Moi Stadium, Kasarani ahead of the Rugby Africa Cup set for RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi from May 23-31.
That success earned Kenya a place in the newly structured HSBC SVNS 2 circuit, with Nairobi hosting the opening leg in February at Nyayo Stadium.
Although Kenya endured a mixed campaign on home soil, the tournament offered valuable exposure against top international sides, including Brazil, China, Argentina, Spain and South Africa.
Kenya opened with a 15-12 victory over Brazil before suffering narrow defeats later in the tournament, including a 5-0 loss to Argentina and a 14-5 defeat to Spain.
Nariaka says competing at that level helped strengthen both her confidence and understanding of the game.
“Playing at that level gave me courage and lifted my belief. You learn a lot, especially in discipline and understanding decisions in your position,” she explained.
The forward added that experiences gained from the international circuit, including Kenya’s training tour in Spain before the Nairobi tournament, helped the players better appreciate the demands of elite rugby.
Looking back on her rugby journey, Nariaka insists discipline has remained the cornerstone of her progress.
“Discipline is a must in sports. You grow through hard work and believing in yourself,” she said.
Away from the national team, Nariaka has enjoyed success with Mwamba RFC Women, helping the club secure a historic fifth consecutive Women’s Kenya Cup title after defeating Kenya Harlequins Women 30-20 in the final at the Goan Institute.
Nariaka played a key role in the victory, scoring twice as Mwamba came from behind to extend their dominance in the domestic game.
She attributed the club’s continued success to teamwork, trust and consistency in training.
“Training, believing, hard work and trusting teammates because rugby is a team sport,” she said.
The Lionesses forward also acknowledged the challenge of balancing rugby with family life and personal responsibilities, saying organisation has been essential.
“You have to organise yourself well and allocate time for everything you want to achieve,” she noted.
Nariaka further encouraged young female athletes to remain patient and persistent despite the challenges.
“Keep pushing because nothing comes easy. If you believe, it will happen,” she said.
She also welcomed the increasing competitiveness in the local women’s game, noting that more clubs are now providing platforms for young players to showcase their talent.
“There are many changes now and more competition among clubs. Young girls are getting chances to come through and show what they can do,” she said.
Nariaka concluded by urging Kenyan fans to continue supporting the Lionesses as they seek to establish themselves among the world’s leading rugby sevens nations.
“To our fans, we are here and we will do our best to win. We really appreciate and love their support,” she said.
