The Kenya Lionesses made history in 2025, topping the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series with a commanding 56 points across three legs before sealing promotion to the HSBC SVNS 2 at the Los Angeles play-offs, where they defeated South Africa 17-14 in a pulsating final. The triumph marked a landmark moment for women’s rugby in Kenya and signalled the country’s growing clout on the global sevens stage.
The road to Los Angeles was built on consistency. The Lionesses accumulated their 56 points across three Challenger Series legs, outscoring rivals from across the globe to finish top of the standings. Their campaign demonstrated a squad capable of competing with the world’s best, combining the explosive pace that has long defined Kenyan rugby with the tactical discipline coaches and fans had spent years developing. The Los Angeles play-off final against South Africa was a tight, physical contest, but Kenya held firm, converting enough opportunities to run out 17-14 winners and cement their place among the elite of the women’s game.
Promotion brought the Lionesses to the 2026 HSBC SVNS 2 competition, and they wasted little time making an impression. In Sao Paulo, Brazil, they reached the final and claimed a silver medal — a remarkable result on their debut at that level. Despite the runners-up finish, the Lionesses came agonisingly close to securing further promotion to the top-tier SVNS circuit, ultimately finishing fifth overall in the standings, just short of the threshold needed to graduate to the main series. It was a performance that underlined both the quality of the squad and the fine margins that separate the world’s best rugby nations.
Women’s rugby in Kenya has been on an upward trajectory for several years. The Kenya Rugby Union has invested steadily in the women’s programme, with the Lionesses regularly featuring in international competition. Kenya’s men’s sevens team, the Shujaa, have long been mainstays of the HSBC SVNS main circuit, and the Lionesses’ promotion signals that women’s sevens in the country is now ready to follow a similar path. The achievement also reflects the broader growth of women’s sport in Kenya, a country that has produced Olympic champions across athletics and other disciplines and is increasingly channelling that sporting culture into rugby.
The Lionesses’ silverware and promotion represent more than just a milestone for the squad — they lay a foundation for sustained competition at the highest level of women’s sevens rugby. Remaining in the SVNS 2 gives the team continued exposure to top international opposition, vital for the development of younger players and the overall standard of the programme. With the Challenger Series title already in the record books and a global final appearance to their name, the Kenya Lionesses enter future competitions with justified confidence. Kenyan rugby fans will be watching closely to see whether this talented group can bridge the final gap to the SVNS main series in the seasons ahead.
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