President William Ruto has called on Kenyans to turn up in large numbers for the HSBC SVNS rugby tournament set for this weekend at the Nyayo National Stadium, urging fans to come out and create a vibrant home atmosphere for the national teams.
In a spirited message ahead of the global event, the President described the tournament as a moment for the country to showcase its passion for sport and hospitality to the world.
“Wakenya, wikendi hii hapa Kanairo HSBC tournament ya rugby inaendelea. It is our time to turn up the volume. Hii si mchezo bana, hii ni noma sana. World-class rugby na vibes hatari sana,” Ruto said.
He encouraged fans to rally behind the national sides and attend the matches in groups to build an electrifying stadium experience.
“Our boys and girls, hii moment ni yenu. Kila mtu show up na squad yako. Let’s show the world how we rock it here. Asanteni,” he added.
The Nairobi leg, scheduled for February 14-15, marks the opening round of the newly structured HSBC SVNS Division 2 global series, a key pathway to the elite World Rugby Sevens circuit.
A total of 12 teams, six men’s and six women’s, will compete in a round-robin format, with teams earning points toward overall standings across three international stops.
After Nairobi, the series will move to Montevideo, Uruguay (March 21–22) and conclude in São Paulo, Brazil (March 28–29).
At the end of the three legs, the top four teams in each gender will qualify for the HSBC SVNS World Championship, where they will face the best sides from Division 1 and fight for promotion to the top-tier circuit for the 2027 season.
The men’s competition features Kenya, USA, Uruguay, Germany, Canada and Belgium, while the women’s division includes Kenya Lionesses, Brazil, China, Spain, South Africa and Argentina.
For Kenya, the stakes are high.
Both Shujaa and the Lionesses will be looking to use home advantage to build early momentum in their promotion push.
Organisers say the tournament is historic, as Nairobi becomes only the second African city after Cape Town to host a World Rugby Sevens event, firmly placing Kenya on the global rugby map.
The two-day event has already generated massive interest, with tickets selling out weeks in advance for the 18,000-capacity Nyayo Stadium, underlining the country’s strong rugby following.
Corporate partners, including Tusker, Safaricom’s M-Pesa and Kenya Power, have invested millions of shillings to support logistics, fan experience and global broadcast standards, reflecting growing confidence in Kenya’s ability to host world-class sporting events.
Beyond the matches, the tournament is expected to deliver a festival-like atmosphere while boosting tourism, hospitality and small businesses in the capital.
Organisers say the tournament is not only a major sporting event but also an opportunity to position Nairobi as a premier destination for international competitions. Thousands of local and international fans are expected to attend, boosting tourism, hospitality and small businesses around the capital.
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