Rugby enthusiasts attending the Safari Sevens at Nyayo National Stadium faced an unexpected halt in play on Friday, October 10, 2025, when a floodlight failure disrupted the evening fixtures. The technical hitch, which occurred shortly after 6:40 PM EAT following the Shogun versus KCB Rugby match, forced the postponement of three men's games, pushing them to an earlier start on Saturday, October 11, 2025.

Tournament organisers, the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), had initially planned for matches to run until 8:00 PM EAT. However, the lighting issue prevented this, leading to a revised schedule for day two.

Rescheduled Fixtures and Tournament Continuation

The three matches that were not played on Friday will now kick off Saturday's proceedings. Uganda will face Nyati at 8:54 AM EAT, followed by French Renegades against UK Select at 9:19 AM EAT. The highly anticipated clash between Kenya Shujaa and Walukuba Rugby will then take place at 9:38 AM EAT.

Despite the initial setback, the tournament is expected to proceed as planned for the remainder of the weekend, with the women's category matches scheduled to commence from 10:00 AM EAT on Saturday.

Context of the Safari Sevens

The Safari Sevens, now in its 27th edition, is Africa's premier rugby sevens event, bringing together a mix of international, regional, and local teams. The tournament, running from Friday, October 10, to Sunday, October 12, 2025, at Nyayo National Stadium, features 12 men's and 8 women's teams competing for the Robin Cahill Trophy.

The event serves as a crucial preparatory ground for teams eyeing the prestigious HSBC SVNS Series. This year's edition also marks a significant partnership between the KRU and the Social Health Authority (SHA), aimed at promoting player health and wellness, including health cover for registered rugby players.

Day One Highlights Before Disruption

Before the floodlight issues, day one saw some compelling matches. In the women's category, defending champions Costa Blanca Barbarians secured a 29-0 victory over Mwamba Select, while the Kenya Lionesses, the 2021 champions, dominated Tunisia with a 34-7 win.

In the men's fixtures, Kenya Morans, the country's second-string national team, made a strong start by defeating ReUnion 24-0. Zimbabwe also recorded a 33-17 victory over Apache, and Shogun narrowly beat KCB Rugby 17-14.

Unanswered Questions and Next Steps

While the Kenya Rugby Union has confirmed the resolution of the power issue and the continuation of play, details regarding the cause of the floodlight failure remain somewhat unclear. Reports from Thomas Odundo, KRU Chief Executive Officer, indicated that only one of the four floodlight poles initially worked, and attempts to activate a second led to both failing. There were also unverified suggestions that payment issues with the contractor who installed the floodlights for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) might have contributed to the problem. Further clarity on the technical fault and any preventative measures for future events would be beneficial.

What to Watch

Rugby fans will be keenly watching how the rescheduled matches impact team performance and the overall flow of the tournament. The performance of Kenya Shujaa, the defending champions in Pool A, will be a key focus as they aim to defend their title on home soil. The tournament continues through Sunday, October 12, 2025, promising more thrilling rugby action and a festive atmosphere.