Shujaa Unveils Strong Squad for Home Tournament

Kenya's national rugby sevens team, Shujaa, has named a formidable 13-man squad for the 2025 Safari Sevens tournament, with George Ooro and Samuel Asati continuing their roles as co-captains. The duo recently led KCB to victory in the 2025 SportPesa National Sevens Circuit. Head coach Kevin Wambua emphasised that the tournament is crucial for building depth and testing combinations ahead of future international competitions, including the 2026 HSBC Division Two campaign in Dubai.

The squad features a blend of experienced players and promising new talent. Key players include Vincent Onyala, Kevin Wekesa, Chrisant Ojwang, Patrick Odongo, Daniel Abukuse, Floyd Wabwire, Festus Shiasi, and William Mwanji. Gabriel Ayimba makes a return for his second consecutive Safari Sevens, while Jackson Siketi has been promoted from the Morans squad after an impressive performance in 2024.

Safari Sevens Returns to Nyayo National Stadium

The 27th edition of the Safari Sevens will be held at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, marking its return to the historic venue for the first time since 2021. The tournament, which runs from Friday, October 10, to Sunday, October 12, 2025, was previously hosted in Machakos in 2024.

The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) confirmed the dates in August 2025, allowing ample time for preparations. The tournament is a significant event on Africa's rugby calendar, bringing together national sides, clubs, universities, and invitational teams.

Tournament Structure and Participating Teams

The 2025 Safari Sevens will feature 20 teams, with 12 competing in the men's category and eight in the women's category. Shujaa enters the tournament as defending champions in the men's category, having secured a 12-0 victory over Shogun in the 2024 final in Machakos. Spain's Costa Blanca Barbarians will defend their women's title.

Kenya will be represented by four teams: Shujaa, Morans, Lionesses, and Cubs. The Morans, Kenya's second men's team, will be captained by John Okoth and include several debutants. The Kenya Lionesses, the national women's rugby sevens team, are also aiming for a strong performance on home soil, with acting head coach Simon Odongo expressing confidence in the team's preparations.

Age Grade Category and Ticketing Information

Preceding the main tournament, the Safari Sevens Age Grade Category will take place at the Ngong Racecourse on Thursday, October 9, and Friday, October 10, 2025. This event will serve as trials for the national Under 16 teams, featuring eight regional teams and Uganda in both boys' and girls' categories.

Tickets for the Safari Sevens are priced at KES 300 for Friday, offering open seating. For Saturday and Sunday, regular tickets are KES 300 for early bird, KES 500 in advance, and KES 750 at the gate per day. VIP season tickets are available for KES 5,000.

Evidence/Data Box

• Tournament Dates: Friday, October 10 – Sunday, October 12, 2025
• Venue: Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi
• Edition: 27th
• Men's Teams: 12
• Women's Teams: 8
• Defending Men's Champions: Shujaa (Kenya)
• Defending Women's Champions: Costa Blanca Barbarians (Spain)
• Age Grade Category: October 9-10, 2025, at Ngong Racecourse
• Ticket Prices (Regular): Friday KES 300; Saturday/Sunday Early Bird KES 300, Advance KES 500, Gate KES 750 (per day)

What to Watch

The 2025 Safari Sevens offers a critical platform for Shujaa to fine-tune their strategies and integrate new talent as they prepare for upcoming international assignments. The return to Nyayo National Stadium is expected to draw a large and enthusiastic home crowd, providing a significant boost to the Kenyan teams. The performance of the Morans and Lionesses will also be closely watched as they aim to showcase the depth of Kenyan rugby talent.