Kenya’s rugby teams celebrated a remarkable day at Nyayo National Stadium as both the men’s and women’s national sevens sides triumphed during the final round of the 2025 Safari 7s on Sunday, October 12.
In a fiercely contested men’s final, the Shujaa team edged Shogun Rugby 14-7 to secure their fourth straight Safari 7s crown. The game began with a solemn moment of silence remembering Warren Abrahams, the late coach of the Belgium Sevens, who passed away shortly before the tournament. Shogun struck first with a converted try, putting early pressure on the Kenyan side. Shujaa, spearheaded by the dynamic Nygel Amaitsa, fought back valiantly. When Shogun was temporarily reduced to six players due to an infringement, Kenya seized the opportunity with Amaitsa crossing for a try to tie the game before halftime.
The second half was a battle of wills, characterized by strong defenses and some handling errors. Fresh legs from substitutions Chrissant Ojwang and Floyd Wabwire proved decisive, with Wabwire scoring the match-winning try. The jubilant home crowd erupted in celebration, joined by the Lionesses, Kenya’s women sevens team, who had earlier sealed their own title.
The Lionesses showcased resilience by claiming a tightly fought 14-10 victory against Uganda’s Lady Cranes in the women’s final, reclaiming the Safari 7s trophy they surrendered the previous year. Meanwhile, the bronze medal clash saw the Kenya Morans overcome Zimbabwe Cheetahs 19-12, driven by powerful performances from John Okoth and Brian Mutua. Additionally, KCB Rugby secured fifth place after a narrow 19-17 win against UK Select in the playoff for position.
The 2025 Safari 7s reaffirmed Kenya’s rugby dominance on home turf and highlighted the depth and talent present across men’s and women’s sevens teams. This success adds to Kenya’s proud rugby legacy and serves as a promising sign for future competitions.
