The Kenya Lionesses continue to shine as one of the best rugby teams in Africa. The team, run by the Kenya Rugby Union, has shown creativity and determination in past matches. SportPesa Blog gives you news and timely updates on the Kenya Lionesses Shujaa squads, results, fixtures and rankings.
The Kenya Lionesses rugby sevens represent the country in the Rugby 7s championships. The team holds its home tournaments and training at the RFUEA Ground in Nairobi. The Kenya Lionesses rugby sevens’ victory is marked by many wins, including the recent 2025 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series win.
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Profile overview
| Category | Details |
| Full name | Kenya women’s national rugby union team |
| Nickname | Lionesses |
| Union | Kenya Rugby Union |
| Manager | Simon Odongo |
| Team Captain | Grace Okulu, Sheila Chajira |
Brief history of the Kenya lionesses
The Kenya Lionesses rugby sevens have grown through both challenging moments and big wins. The team’s spirit took a turn in 2012, after they lost their captain, Aberdeen Shikoyi, to an injury. They later made history by qualifying for the Olympics in 2016 after winning the Africa Cup Sevens. In 2024, the Kenya Lionesses competed strongly in global tournaments, showing steady progress and proving themselves as one of Africa’s top rugby teams.
Competition history
Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens
| Round | Year | Round | Position | MP | Won | Lost | Drawn |
| Semi Final | Uganda 2008 | Final | 3rd Place, Bronze Medalists | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Final | Morocco 2012 | 2nd Place, Silver Medalists | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| Semi final | Tunisia 2013 | Semi Final | 4th Place | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Final | Kenya 2014 | Final | 2nd Place, Silver Medalists | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| South Africa 2015 | Final | 2nd Place, Silver Medalists | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | |
| Zimbabwe 2016 | Final | 2nd Place, Silver Medalists | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| Tunisia 2017 | Final | 2nd Place, Silver Medalists | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | |
| Botswana 2018 | Final | 1st Place, Gold Medalists | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tunisia 2019 | Final | 2nd Place, Silver Medalists | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | |
| Tunisia 2022 | Plate Final | 5th Place | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tunisia 2023 | Final | 2nd Place, Silver Medalists | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| Ghana 2024 | Final | 2nd Place, Silver Medalists | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Summer Olympics
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | Won | Lost | Drawn |
| Brazil 2016 | Placement Round | 11th | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Japan 2020 | 9th Place Match | 10th | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | — | 2/2 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
Commonwealth Games
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | Won | Lost | Drawn |
| Australia 2018 | Placement Round | 6th | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| England 2022 | Did Not Qualify | — | — | — | — | — |
| Total | — | 1/2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
The Kenya Lionesses squad
This is a list of the current Kenya Lionesses players.
- Ann Namunyak
- Christabel Lindo
- Edith Nariaka
- Faith Livoi
- Freshia Awino
- Grace Okulu (Co-Captain)
- Janet Okello (Vice-Captain)
- Moreen Muritu
- Naomi Amuguni
- Nelly Chikombe
- Phoebe Akinyi
- Sheila Chajira (Co-Captain)
- Sinaida Nyachio
ALSO READ: Key quartet ruled out as Kenya Lionesses prepare for Africa Women’s 7s 2025
Kenya Lionesses rugby results
| Competition | Fixture | Result | Date Played |
| SVNS USA Women – Relegation – Play Offs | Kenya Lionesses vs South Africa | 17-14 | 5 May 2025 |
| SVNS USA Women – Relegation Group | Kenya Lionesses vs Colombia | 7-5 | 4 May 2025 |
| SVNS USA Women – Relegation Group | Brazil 7s W vs Kenya Lionesses | 28-10 | 4 May 2025 |
| SVNS USA Women – Relegation Group | Spain 7s W vs Kenya 7s W | 33-14 | 3 May 2025 |
| Olympic Games 7’s Women – Qualification – Play Offs | China 7s W vs Kenya 7s W | 24-7 | 23 June 2024 |
| Olympic Games 7’s Women – Qualification – Play Offs | Czech Republic 7s W vs Kenya 7s W | 10-12 | 23 June 2024 |
| Olympic Games 7’s Women – Qualification – Play Offs | Kenya 7s W vs Argentina 7s W | 15-12 | 23 June 2024 |
| Olympic Games 7’s Women – Qualification | Argentina 7s W vs Kenya 7s W | 17-19 | 22 June 2024 |
| Olympic Games 7’s Women – Qualification | Kenya 7s W vs Samoa 7s W | 31-5 | 22 June 2024 |
| Olympic Games 7’s Women – 9th-12th Places | Canada 7s W vs Kenya 7s W | 24-10 | 31 July 2021 |
Upcoming Kenya Lionesses fixtures
Kenya vs Cote d’Ivoire (Rugby Africa Women’s 7s Cup 2025)
Kenya vs Ghana (Rugby Africa Women’s 7s Cup 2025)
Global women’s rugby ranking
| Rank | Change | Team | Points |
| 1 | Steady | England | 97.76 |
| 2 | Steady | Canada | 90.13 |
| 3 | Steady | New Zealand | 88.76 |
| 4 | Steady | France | 86.42 |
| 5 | Steady | Ireland | 78.20 |
| 6 | Steady | Scotland | 77.39 |
| 7 | Steady | Australia | 75.46 |
| 8 | Steady | United States | 72.90 |
| 9 | Steady | Italy | 72.37 |
| 10 | Steady | South Africa | 71.62 |
| 11 | Steady | Japan | 69.72 |
| 12 | Steady | Wales | 66.13 |
| 13 | Steady | Fiji | 63.98 |
| 14 | Steady | Spain | 62.42 |
| 15 | Steady | Samoa | 59.72 |
| 16 | Steady | Hong Kong | 57.56 |
| 17 | Steady | Netherlands | 57.42 |
| 18 | Steady | Russia | 55.10 |
| 19 | Steady | Kazakhstan | 53.88 |
| 20 | Steady | Kenya | 50.68 |
FAQs about Kenya Lionesses
What tournaments do the Kenya Lionesses play in?
The Kenya women’s rugby sevens team plays in Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens, Safari Sevens, and the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.
How much do Kenya 7s players get paid?
The Kenya Lionesses players receive a monthly salary ranging from Sh100,000 to Sh150,000.
What are the rankings of the Kenya Lionesses?
The Kenya Lionesses Rugby squad is ranked 20th globally, with 50.68 points. In Africa, the team is in position 2.
Conclusion
The Kenya Lionesses rugby sevens are one of Africa’s top women’s rugby teams, known for their skill, teamwork, and resilience. The team has competed in major tournaments, including the Olympics and Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens. The Kenya Lionesses continue to sharpen their skills, aiming for more points to raise their global ranking in the coming matches.
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