Nairobi is currently at the heartbeat of African women’s rugby as Kenya hosts the Performance Division of the 2026 Rugby Africa Women’s tournament running from May 21st to 31st at the iconic RFUEA Grounds.
Since the tournament’s inception in 2019, South Africa’s Springbok Women have established themselves as the undisputed queens of African rugby, clinching four continental titles. The only interruption came in 2020 and 2021 when the competition was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Springbok’s remarkable consistency has cemented South Africa’s reputation as Africa’s leading force on the global stage, regularly representing the continent at the Rugby World Cup and WXV tournaments.
Last year’s bloody battle in Antananarivo once again showcased South Africa’s dominance. The Springbok Women stormed the tournament and clinched gold with an emphatic 61-17 victory over hosts Madagascar in the final clash.
Kenya’s Lionesses settled for silver after another spirited campaign winning three of their four matches, while Uganda and Madagascar completed the standings in third and fourth place respectively.
This year, the rivalry intensifies as Africa’s top four rugby nations, Kenya, South Africa, Madagascar, and Uganda, battle it out in a round-robin format. Each team will face all three opponents in what promises to be a thrilling showdown packed with fierce tackles, and national pride.
For South Africa, the mission is clear, secure an unprecedented fifth consecutive continental crown and continue their iron grip on African rugby. But standing in their way will be a determined Kenyan side eager to make history on home soil. Backed by passionate home support, the Kenya Lionesses are targeting nothing less than gold as they seek to dethrone the reigning champions in Nairobi.
“We are in camp with 35 players that we selected from the 62 women and we are preparing for the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup that will be happening here in Nairobi at the RFUEA Grounds. I urge all the fans to come and support us, be an extra player and push us to win gold,” said Simon Odongo, Kenya Lionesses head coach in an interview with K24 Digital.
The 2026 Women’s Rugby Africa Cup comes hot on the heels of the recently concluded Women’s Division One Cup held at Menzah Stadium from 1st to 16th May 2026. The tournament featured four nations, hosts Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Morocco, and Zimbabwe, although the latter were unable to travel for the competition.
Last year, Uganda emerged champions of the Division One Cup to secure promotion into Africa’s elite women’s rugby competition, underlining the growing competitiveness of the women’s game across the continent.
For Kenya, hosting this year’s Rugby Africa Women’s 15s Championship marks yet another major milestone in the country’s rising status as a continental rugby powerhouse. Earlier this year, Nairobi successfully staged the HSBC SVNS Challenger Series during the Valentine’s weekend, drawing global attention to Kenya’s ability to organize world-class rugby events.
With back-to-back international tournaments hosted on Kenyan soil, the message is becoming increasingly clear, rugby in Kenya is not only growing rapidly, but the nation is steadily cementing its place as one of Africa’s premier rugby destinations.
“There is a lot of pressure especially South Africa who are in the world cup. What I can say is, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog,” said Fresha Awino in an interview with KTN at Kasarani.
The stage is set as the action kicks off on May 23 with defending champions South Africa opening their campaign against a determined Madagascar side in what promises to be an explosive curtain-raiser. The spotlight will then shift to an intense East African derby as hosts Kenya have a date with neighbors Uganda in a match expected to ignite the home crowd.
“We have a tough derby test against Uganda in our opening match. Madagascar is a quality side with very fast backs and an expansive game, while South Africa is a complete team with strong emphasis on set-piece and territory,” said Head coach Odongo in an interview with the Star.
The competition resumes on May 27 with another blockbuster lineup. South Africa will battle Uganda as the Springbok Women continue their quest for a fifth straight continental crown, while Kenya’s Lionesses lock horns with Madagascar in a crucial encounter that could shape the title race.
Grand finale is set for May 31. Uganda will first square off against Madagascar before fans witness the headline clash of the tournament, a mouthwatering showdown between hosts Kenya and reigning champions South Africa. With continental glory on the line and national pride at stake, the final day promises drama, intensity, and unforgettable rugby moments at RFUEA Grounds.
By Victor Ngugi
