KRU caps World Sevens Sevens Series II to 12,000 as tickets sell out

Kenya Sevens playmaker Samuel Asati/FILE

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Chief Executive Officer Thomas Odundo has announced that attendance for the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series Division Two leg at Nyayo Stadium will be capped at 12,000 fans per day.

The two-day tournament is scheduled for February 14–15.

Speaking on Tuesday, Odundo said the decision to limit numbers was reached after consultations with Sports Kenya, citing security and logistical concerns.

“We cannot go beyond that number due to security considerations. Following consultations with Sports Kenya, we were advised not to exceed the limit. Nyayo Stadium was renovated in 2020 and its capacity was reduced,” Odundo said.

Odundo expressed delight at the overwhelming response from fans, revealing that tickets for both days sold out far quicker than anticipated.

“We did not anticipate the turnout we have seen. We have hosted Safari Sevens at the same venue for a couple of years, as well as the World Under-20 and Barthes Cup tournaments, but we have never experienced anything like what we have seen over the past week,” he noted.

Fans paid KSh 500 for regular tickets purchased online through ticketing partner Tiko Hub. Tickets bought at the gate were priced at KSh 750.

Group purchase options, branded as ‘Mbogi’ tickets, were also available, with a package for seven people going for KSh 2,100, while tickets for a group of 12 were priced at KSh 3,600. Organisers confirmed that a total of 22,000 tickets were printed for the event.

Odundo said preparations were in top gear ahead of the rugby extravaganza, with just over a week remaining before kickoff.

“We are leaving nothing to chance. We have ten days to the championship and we are ready to host the biggest sevens tournament this country has ever seen,” he said.

He added that security and crowd management remained a key focus. “Crowd control and security are critical, and we are working closely with security agencies to ensure a seamless tournament.”

The Nairobi leg will feature 12 teams. In the men’s category, Kenya will compete against the United States, Uruguay, Germany, Canada and Belgium. The Kenya Lionesses will face Brazil, China, Spain, South Africa and Argentina in the women’s competition.

Following the Nairobi leg, the Challenger Series will move to Uruguay and Brazil for back-to-back tournaments scheduled for March 21–22 and March 28–29.

The top four teams after the three tournaments will qualify for the World Championship, where they will join eight teams from the World Sevens Series Division One. The championship will be staged across three events in Hong Kong, Spain and France.