12 nations converge on Nairobi for Rugby Africa Women’s Cup

12 nations converge on Nairobi for Rugby Africa Women’s Cup - Lionesses during a kit presentation. (KRU)

Kenya will be seeking to turn home advantage into a return to the top of the continental game after finishing runners-up in the previous edition.

A place on the international sevens circuit will be the ultimate prize when 12 nations converge on Nairobi for the 2026 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup on November 7 and 8.

The tournament, to be staged at the RFUEA Grounds, will offer the winner the continent’s sole ticket to the World Rugby SVNS Division 3, giving the competition significance beyond the battle for the African title.

Kenya will be seeking to turn home advantage into a return to the top of the continental game after finishing runners-up in the previous edition.

The Lionesses have been placed in Pool B alongside Tunisia, Ghana and Egypt, while defending champions South Africa face Zambia, Zimbabwe and Rwanda in Pool A.

Uganda, Madagascar, Mauritius and Burkina Faso make up Pool C.

For the participating teams, the tournament provides a direct route towards the global sevens pathway, with the SVNS Division 3 qualification prize adding pressure to every pool match and the knockout stages.

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Kenya will also be looking to build on a strong showing when it hosted the previous Rugby Africa women’s competition at the RFUEA Grounds in May.

The Lionesses reached the final after making a powerful start to that tournament, beating Uganda 43-10 before producing an emphatic 57-0 victory over Madagascar.

Their run eventually ended against South Africa, who retained their continental title with a 35-20 victory over Kenya in the final on May 31.

South Africa will arrive in Nairobi as the team to beat again, but Kenya will have the advantage of familiar surroundings and home support as it attempts to go one step further.

The November tournament will also form part of Rugby Africa’s 40th anniversary celebrations, adding another layer of significance to the 13th edition of the competition.

Kenya's hosting role comes only months after the country staged the 2026 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in the 15s format, underlining Nairobi’s growing role as a venue for major continental rugby competitions.

While the Lionesses will be chasing a continental title on home soil, the bigger prize will be what comes with it.

The team that emerges on top will not only be crowned African champions but will also secure the continent’s only ticket to the World Rugby SVNS Division 3.

With that pathway at stake, Nairobi is set for two days of high-stakes women’s sevens rugby.