Rugby Africa has officially confirmed 3–4 October 2026 as the new dates for the 2026 Rugby Africa Men’s 7s Tournament, which was postponed in June due to public health concerns linked to the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa.
The continental showpiece will still be hosted in Mauritius, with the rescheduled tournament set to bring together 12 of Africa’s top men’s sevens nations in a crucial competition on the Rugby Africa calendar.
The tournament had initially been scheduled for 20–21 June 2026 at the Sport Complex (SPARC) in Cascavelle before Mauritian authorities advised against hosting the event following a Cabinet-level review and recommendations from the country’s health officials amid the evolving Ebola situation.
At the time, Rugby Africa and the Mauritius Rugby Union emphasized that the postponement was purely precautionary and confirmed that no Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases had been reported among participating teams, officials, tournament staff or within Mauritius.
The decision followed consultations between Rugby Africa, Mauritius Rugby Union, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and World Rugby, with the World Health Organization (WHO) having classified the Ebola outbreak affecting parts of the region as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
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Despite the postponement, Rugby Africa President Herbert Mensah assured stakeholders that the tournament had not been cancelled.
“This is a postponement, not a cancellation. Continuity is assured. We remain fully committed to delivering this tournament under the right conditions,” Mensah said when the postponement was announced.
Following months of consultations and planning, Rugby Africa has now confirmed that the continental championship will take place on 3–4 October 2026, allowing participating unions to resume preparations for one of Africa’s premier sevens competitions.
