Economic Viability and Strategic Growth

Rugby Africa is championing a strategic shift towards the sevens version of the game as the primary engine for growth in Kenya and across the continent, according to its president, Herbert Mensah. In an interview on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Mensah argued that the shorter format is more economical and logistically manageable for developing nations. “Africa can develop the sport faster through the sevens version because it is more economical than the 15s version,” he stated. This approach is rooted in the reality that many African nations lack the financial resources to sustain full 15-a-side programs from grassroots to the national level.

New Tournaments to Elevate Competition

To materialize this vision, Rugby Africa is launching an invitational Africa Sevens Series. This new tournament aims to increase high-level competition and provide a platform for emerging talent. Mensah identified Kenya, Uganda, Mauritius, Zambia, and Zimbabwe as initial target hosts due to their existing sevens events. The plan could see Kenya's renowned Safari Sevens either transformed into a World Rugby Division I event or integrated into this new continental series, attracting teams from Europe, America, and Asia. Furthermore, there are plans to expand existing regional competitions like the Elgon Cup and Victoria Cup into fully-fledged African tournaments to raise playing standards and narrow the gap with global powerhouses like South Africa.

Kenya as a Hub for Global Rugby

Mensah has strongly endorsed Kenya's potential to become a major hub for international rugby events. He revealed that high-level discussions have taken place with World Rugby's Director of Competitions, Nijel Cass, and Kenyan government officials about the possibility of Nairobi hosting two significant sevens tournaments: a World Rugby Division I event and the new Africa Sevens Series. This follows earlier statements in November where Mensah backed Kenya to host a leg of the prestigious HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, a move that would make Nairobi the second African city after Cape Town to feature on the global circuit. Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has affirmed Kenya's readiness, pointing to the nearly completed 60,000-seater Talanta Sports City Stadium as a testament to the country's infrastructural capacity.

A Business-Oriented Approach

Since his election in March 2023, the Ghanaian sports administrator has emphasized the need for a mindset shift, viewing sport as a major business. “Sport is a business, and money doesn’t like noise,” Mensah remarked, praising the new leadership at the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) under Harriet Okach for bringing stability and a new dynamism to the sport. His strategy involves securing greater investment from governments and forging strategic partnerships, such as the extended deal with Agence Française de Développement (AFD), to strengthen rugby's financial foundation across the continent. Mensah believes that by creating commercially viable products like a robust sevens series, African rugby can achieve financial independence and improve its elite programs.

Leveraging Kenya's Rugby Culture

Kenya's vibrant rugby culture and the global following of its national sevens team, Shujaa, are central to Mensah's vision. The team has a history of success, including a landmark victory at the 2016 Singapore Sevens and semi-final appearances at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2009 and 2013. Mensah noted the passionate support the team receives internationally, not just from Kenyans but from a diverse fanbase, as a key asset. “For me, the greatness of Kenya is from rugby, not from football,” he asserted, urging for continued investment to build on this legacy. The success of the sevens format is seen as a crucial driver for the sport's overall popularity and development, inspiring new generations of players and fans across the nation.