- Belgium 7s head coach Jeff Williams says the team is aiming for a spot among the world’s elite as they prepare for the HSBC SVNS 2 campaign.
- The inaugural leg of HSBC SVNS 2 will take place on February 14–15 at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya.
- The Wild Dogs have already announced their strong 13-man squad to take on Kenya, Canada, Germany, Uruguay, and the USA.
Belgium 7s head coach Jeff Williams says the team is aiming for nothing less than a top-eight finish in the world as they prepare for the 2026 HSBC SVNS 2 campaign.
The Wild Dogs are joining the six-men side alongside a six-women squad, all heading to Kenya for the HSBC SVNS 2 opener in Nairobi in less than a week.
The inaugural leg will be held on February 14–15 at Nyayo National Stadium.
ALSO READ: Argentina women’s 7s coach Salas outlines key improvements ahead of HSBC SVNS 2 opener in Nairobi
They earned promotion to this division after finishing as runners-up to Canada in Dubai earlier this January at the first-ever HSBC SVNS 3 event.
With that milestone behind them, the squad’s preparations for trips to Nairobi, Montevideo, and São Paulo are still in the early stages.
Under the new format, Belgium will join Kenya, Germany, the USA, and Uruguay in competing for a top-four finish across the three legs, which would earn them a spot in the HSBC SVNS World Championships.
Belgium 7s coach Williams aims for top eight
Speaking to Rugby Pass after the historic promotion from HSBC SVNS 3 in January, Williams acknowledged that while SVNS 3 treated them well, they are far from relaxing.
The team is not only pursuing championship promotion but also building toward qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Olympics, I think, for us as a programme – we’re chasing 2028,” Williams said. We’ve got a lot of work to do, and we need to be very adaptive and creative with how we can budget and create more opportunities to train.
Moments like Dubai only help the cause. We don’t chase clout or anything like that, but sometimes you have to be proactive to show people a story that they want to invest in.”
He also emphasized that they are fully committed to reaching the top eight in HSBC SVNS 2 and breaking into the top flight.
Top eight in the world is something we are chasing. We are moving towards that ambition and to create a place where Belgium Rugby Sevens has an identity – where people want to watch us and that there are players who excite them.”
Belgium 7s HSBC SVNS 2 Nairobi preview
The Wild Dogs have been grinding in obscurity for quite a while, and transforming Belgium into continental challengers did not just happen overnight. In 2024, the team was at a crossroads.
Less than 12 months after a runners-up finish in the 2023 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, they were reeling from a poor Rugby Europe Sevens Championship performance, where they placed ninth out of 12 teams.
The former Bath Rugby and Beziers wing has already named his strong squad for the three-leg campaign as they push for promotion.
ALSO READ: Full teams confirmed for 2026 HSBC SVNS Division 2 series
In the Nairobi leg, they will open their campaign against the USA 7s on Saturday morning, then face hosts Kenya for the first time ever in the HSBC SVNS series that afternoon. They will wrap up day one with a match against Uruguay.
On Sunday noon, they take on Canada before finishing the round-robin stage against Germany 7s.
ALSO READ: HSBC SVNS 2 Nairobi: Full fixtures, schedule & kick-off times
After Nairobi, the competition moves to Montevideo, Uruguay, before concluding in São Paulo, Brazil.
At the end of the three legs, the top four teams will join the top eight sides for the three-stage World Championship Series.
The top eight out of twelve will secure their places in SVNS Division 1 for 2027.
Belgium 7s squad for the HSBC SVNS 2 in Nairobi:
- Benjamin Ruddick
- Gaspard Lalli
- Hugues Bastin
- Isaac Montoisy
- Jean-prieur du Plessis
- Julien Berger
- Martin Marenne
- Miguel Fachada
- Mike Vanleirde
- Nicolas Bulte
- Ryan Godsmark
- Samuel Couplan
- Tornike Megrelidze
HSBC SVNS 2 Nairobi: Full fixtures, schedule & kick-off times
Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi – 14–15 February 2026
Saturday, 14 February 2026
Women’s Matches
- 09:00– China 7s vs Argentina 7s
- 09:22– Spain 7s vs South Africa 7s
- 09:44– Brazil 7s vs Kenya 7s
- 12:02 – Spain 7s vs Argentina 7s
- 12:24 – Brazil 7s vs South Africa 7s
- 12:46 – China 7s vs Kenya 7s
- 15:04 – Brazil 7s vs Argentina 7s
- 15:26– China 7s vs Spain 7s
- 15:48 – Kenya 7s vs South Africa 7s
Men’s Matches
- 10:06– USA 7s vs Belgium 7s
- 10:28– Uruguay 7s vs Germany 7s
- 10:50 – Kenya 7s vs Canada 7s
- 13:08 – Uruguay 7s vs USA 7s
- 13:30– Germany 7s vs Canada 7s
- 13:52 – Kenya 7s vs Belgium 7s
- 16:10 – USA 7s vs Canada 7s
- 16:32– Uruguay 7s vs Belgium 7s
- 16:54 – Kenya 7s vs Germany 7s
Sunday, 15 February 2026
Women’s Matches
- 11:00 – China 7s vs South Africa 7s
- 11:22– Brazil 7s vs Spain 7s
- 11:44 – Kenya 7s vs Argentina 7s
- 15:12 – South Africa 7s vs Argentina 7s
- 15:34 – Brazil 7s vs China 7s
- 15:56 – Spain 7s vs Kenya 7s
Men’s Matches
- 12:06 – Canada 7s vs Belgium 7s
- 12:28 – USA 7s vs Germany 7s
- 12:50 – Kenya 7s vs Uruguay 7s
- 16:18 – Germany 7s vs Belgium 7s
- 16:40 – Uruguay 7s vs Canada 7s
- 17:02 – Kenya 7s vs USA 7s