Bordeaux, France – 5 June 2026
The world’s best rugby sevens nations will converge in Bordeaux this weekend as the HSBC SVNS World Championship Finals get underway from 5 to 7 June 2026. Among the teams competing on rugby’s biggest sevens stage will be Kenya’s national team, Shujaa, carrying the hopes of millions of Kenyan rugby fans both at home and abroad.
Hosted at the Stade de Bordeaux, the tournament marks the grand finale of the 2026 HSBC SVNS season and brings together the top-performing men’s and women’s teams from around the world.
For the Kenyan diaspora in France, the event presents a unique opportunity to support the national team on French soil and celebrate one of Kenya’s most successful team sports.
Kenya Faces a Tough Challenge
Shujaa has been drawn into one of the tournament’s most competitive pools alongside rugby sevens powerhouses Fiji, South Africa and Great Britain.
Kenya’s opening matches will see them take on Fiji and South Africa on Friday before concluding the pool stage against Great Britain on Saturday morning.
Kenya Fixtures
Friday 5 June 2026
- 🇰🇪 Kenya vs Fiji 🇫🇯 – 14:44
- 🇰🇪 Kenya vs South Africa 🇿🇦 – 20:36
Saturday 6 June 2026
- 🇰🇪 Kenya vs Great Britain 🇬🇧 – 10:44
These fixtures will determine whether Kenya advances to the knockout stages, which begin on Saturday afternoon.
A Proud Rugby Tradition
Kenya has long been recognised as one of the leading rugby sevens nations outside the traditional rugby powers. Over the years, Shujaa has earned global respect through memorable victories against some of the world’s strongest teams and by consistently competing at the highest level of the sport.
The team famously won the Singapore Sevens in 2016 and has continued to inspire a new generation of Kenyan rugby players through its exciting style of play, speed and determination.
Participation in the HSBC SVNS World Championship Finals once again demonstrates Kenya’s place among the elite nations of world rugby sevens.
A Special Moment for Kenyans in France
The Bordeaux tournament comes at a time when the Kenyan community in France continues to grow and become more visible in sports, business, culture and public life.
Many supporters are expected to travel from Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, Nantes and other cities to cheer on Shujaa throughout the weekend.
Beyond the competition itself, the event offers an opportunity for Kenyans living in France to come together and proudly support their national team.
France Hosts the World’s Best
Following the success of rugby sevens during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, France has continued to strengthen its position as a major destination for international rugby events.
The HSBC SVNS Finals in Bordeaux will feature Olympic medallists, world champions and some of the biggest stars in the sport as they compete for the ultimate prize in rugby sevens.
The tournament will conclude on Sunday 7 June with the semi-finals and finals, where the 2026 world champions will be crowned.
All Eyes on Shujaa
As the competition begins, Kenyan supporters around the world will be hoping that Shujaa can once again demonstrate the resilience, talent and fighting spirit that have made the team one of Africa’s greatest rugby success stories.
For the Kenyan diaspora in France, Bordeaux 2026 is more than a sporting event—it is an opportunity to rally behind the national team, celebrate Kenyan excellence and show the world that the spirit of Shujaa remains as strong as ever.
Go Shujaa! Go Kenya! 🇰🇪
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