Kenya 7s, popularly known as Shujaa, have secured their place in the SVNS Series Division II after a commanding 24-5 victory over Canada in the playoffs final held at Dignity Park.
The win marks a strong revenge for Shujaa, who were relegated from the top tier following a narrow 12-7 loss to Canada in the 2023 playoffs.
Kenya 7s start off
Shujaa started the match on the front foot, with former captain Anthony Mboya opening the scoring in the first minute to give Kenya a 5-0 lead.
Just two minutes later, Mboya struck again, crossing the whitewash for his second try, which was successfully converted by Nygel Amaitsa to extend the lead to 12-0.
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The momentum continued as Vincent Onyala, set up by Kevin Wekesa, added another try. Amaitsa’s second successful conversion made it 19-0.
In the second half, Onyala completed his brace, pushing the scoreline to 24-0 in favor of Shujaa. Canada managed a consolation try through James Thiel, but it was not enough to threaten Kenya’s dominant performance.
With the win, Kenya joins the USA and Uruguay in the newly structured SVNS Division II for the upcoming season.
New SVNS Series Format for 2026
The SVNS Series will adopt a new three-division format starting next season:
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Division 1: Features eight men’s and eight women’s teams competing in six high-profile SVNS Series events.
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Division 2: Comprises six teams per gender, battling it out across three events.
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Division 3: A standalone Challenger event featuring eight teams per gender, who qualify through regional competitions.
The season will culminate in a SVNS World Championship Series, featuring the top 12 men’s and women’s teams—eight from Division 1 and four from Division 2—competing in three blockbuster events to determine the world champions.
This revamped structure ensures:
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Integrated tournaments with equal participation fees and representation for both men’s and women’s teams.
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A clear promotion pathway from regional qualifiers to global championship contention within a single season.
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An expanded calendar with 13 tournaments across the 2026 HSBC SVNS season, offering increased opportunity and exposure.
The eight teams competing at the HSBC SVNS World Championship 2025 in Los Angeles (May 3–4) will automatically qualify as Division 1 teams for the 2026 Series.
