(L to R) SportPesa's Willis Ojwang, Japheth Akhulia and Esther Kangethe with KRU chairperson Harriet Okach, Quins' Nekesa Were and Mwamba chairman Edwin Waita/HANDOUT
Women’s teams will compete in five of the six legs of the 2026 National Sevens Circuit following a major format change unveiled by the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) ahead of next month’s season opener in Nakuru.
Traditionally, women’s clubs featured in only three legs of the circuit, but KRU has expanded their participation in a deliberate effort to accelerate the growth of the women’s game and strengthen the talent pipeline for the national team.
According to KRU Fixtures and Competitions Director Kevin Wambua, the move is designed to provide more competitive opportunities for female players as the national women’s sevens side, the Kenya Lionesses, pursue core status on the World Rugby Sevens Series within the next two years.
“The participating clubs in the women’s category will play five of the six legs on a move meant to spur growth for the women’s game and create a foundation for the Lionesses as they set their sights on becoming a core team in the next two years,” said Wambua.
“We are very deliberate with this move to see the women’s game grow and to see as many of our girls play competitive rugby.” The women’s competition will begin at the Prinsloo Sevens in Nakuru on July 25-26 before moving to Kisumu for the Dala Sevens on August 1-2.
The circuit will then head to Nairobi for the Kabeberi Sevens on August 15-16, before travelling to Embu for the Embu Sevens on September 5-6.
The women’s season will conclude at the Christie Sevens in Nairobi on September 12-13, with this year’s edition carrying added significance as the tournament celebrates its 60th anniversary.
KRU has also introduced Under-16 and Under-18 boys’ and girls’ competitions, which will be played on Thursdays and Fridays ahead of the main tournaments.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the development pathway and expose young players to competitive rugby environments. The changes were announced during the launch of SportPesa’s sponsorship of the circuit.
Speaking at the event, SportPesa head of marketing, Willis Ojwang, described the relationship as a long-term partnership focused on growing Kenyan rugby.
“This is not just about sponsorships; it is about partnerships and growing the sport together,” said Ojwang. From the sponsorship package, Sh6 million will support host clubs, while another KSh6 million has been allocated to KRU.
A further KSh9 million will cater for media coverage, marketing and livestreaming. Prize money has also been significantly increased, rising from KSh1 million last season to Sh4.14 million this year.
For each Division One leg, the men’s winners will receive KSh150,000, runners-up Sh75,000 and third-placed teams KSh40,000. In the women’s category, winners will earn KSh100,000, second place KSh50,000 and third place KSh25,000.
Division Two winners will pocket Sh70,000, while runners-up will receive Sh30,000. The overall circuit champions will also enjoy enhanced rewards.
The men’s overall winners will receive KSh300,000, with second and third-place finishers earning Sh150,000 and Sh100,000, respectively. Women’s circuit champions will take home Sh200,000, while runners-up and third-place finishers will receive KSh100,000 and KSh50,000, respectively.
The expanded women’s programme and increased investment underline KRU’s commitment to broadening participation and raising the competitive standards of rugby across all levels.
