- 14 Kenya 7s stars among the elite players set for the inaugural 2026 Ultimate Sevens Championship.
- Shujaa have 10 players included in the draft, while the Kenya Lionesses have four standout stars on the roster.
- The campaign will feature events in Spain, Wales and France before culminating with the Grand Final at London’s Gtech Community Stadium on September 24.
All 14 of the Kenya 7s players drafted for the inaugural Ultimate Sevens Championship have secured spots across the six franchises set to feature in the debut tournament.
In a draft pool released by the organisers on Monday, August 3, Shujaa had 10 players shortlisted, while the Kenya Lionesses have four standout stars on the roster.
On that note, they join a minimum of 90 athletes from across the globe, including some of the world’s finest men’s and women’s rugby sevens talent, with the Kenya 7s stars all locking in their places among the six competing sides.
ALSO READ: Kenya 7s stars set for inaugural Ultimate Sevens Championship draft
The six clubs battling it out in the opening season are Albion Athletic Sevens Club, Atlantic Novas Sevens Club, Foudre Bleue Sevens Club, Pacific Current Sevens Club, Clan Taran Sevens Club, and Sol Feroz Sevens Club.
Coached by Crystal Kaua, Shujaa star Kevin Wekesa and experienced former 7s player Tony Omondi will represent Pacific Current, while Kenya Lionesses speedster Freshia Oduor has been named in the women’s squad.
KCB Rugby duo Samwel Asati and Nygel Amaitsa have been selected by Albion Athletic, where they will be coached by Shannon Fraser.
ALSO READ: Five Kenya 7s players set for professional Rugby Premier League in India
Meanwhile, Festus Shiasi and speedster Patrick Odongo are set to feature for Foudre Bleue, where they will be coached by Maria Ribera, with Kenya Lionesses sensation Sinaida Mokaya also representing the club’s women’s side.
Shujaa co-captain George Ooro is the only Shujaa player heading to Sol Feroz, with Maureen Muritu joining the team’s women’s side, coached by Paco Hernandez.
Experienced Sheila Chajira completes the quartet of Kenya Lionesses players who were drafted, having joined Clan Taran, where John Okoth and Vincent Onyala will feature for the men’s side under Philip Snyman.
Chrisant Ojwang’ completes Shujaa’s tenth player in the draft pool, with the Nakuru RFC man set to play for Atlantic Novas under the guidance of coach Kelly Brazier.
What is the Ultimate Sevens Championship?
The Ultimate Sevens is a new private global rugby sevens championship set to launch in September 2026, backed by BIA Sports Group.
Designed to deliver fast-paced, high-impact rugby sevens action, the championship will take place at iconic sporting venues across Europe during its inaugural season.
It is also part of a rapidly expanding off-season for sevens players from the HSBC SVNS Series, with the Ultimate Sevens marking one of the biggest global competitions to showcase players in a new light.
The campaign will feature events in Spain, Wales and France before culminating in the Grand Final at London’s Gtech Community Stadium on September 24.
2026 Ultimate Sevens Championship calendar
The tour kicks off on September 5 at Madrid’s Ontime Butarque Stadium, followed by Round 2 on September 12 at Cardiff Arms Park.
The competition then heads to Parc des Sports Aguilera in Biarritz on September 18 before wrapping up with the Grand Final on September 24 at London’s Gtech Community Stadium.
- Round 1 (Madrid, Spain): Saturday, September 5, 2026 – Ontime Butarque Stadium.
- Round 2 (Cardiff, Wales): Saturday, September 12, 2026 – Cardiff Arms Park.
- Round 3 (Biarritz, France): Friday, September 18, 2026 – Parc des Sports Aguilera.
- Grand Final (London, England): Thursday, September 24, 2026 – Gtech Community Stadium.
2026 Ultimate 7s Championship teams and players
The six franchises will feature both men’s and women’s sides comprising 12 players, with two marquee players, nine elite players and one academy player making up each squad.
NOTE: All sides will receive an additional academy player to their final squads.
Pacific Current: Head coach: Crystal Kaua
- Women’s side: Maddison Levi, Reapi Ulunisau, Savannah Bauder, Kahli Henwood, Bianca Silva, Silika Qalo, Vika Nakacia, Isadora Lopes, Freshia Oduor, Ilisapeci Delaiwau, Paula Schult
- Men’s side: Henry Hutchison, Terio Veilawa, James Turner, Waisea Nacuqu, George Bose, Kevin Wekesa, Jeremy Trevithick, Marcus Kershaw, Sevuloni Mocenacagi, Finley Lloyd-Gilmour, Tony Omondi
Albion Athletic: Head coach: Shannon Fraser
- Women’s side: Isabella Nasser, Abbie Brown, Kaitlin Shave, Carmen Izyk, Juana Stella, Katie Shillaker, Paula Requena, Julia Druzgala, Georgia Lingham, Mette Zimmat, Martyna Wardaszka
- Men’s side: Charlton Kerr, Tristan Leyds, Vuiviwa Naduvalo, Stephen Parez, Jayden Blake, Jordan Sepho, Ben Dowling, Harry Wilson, Samuel Asati, Rory Jennings, Nygel Amaitsa
Foudre Bleue: Head coach: María Ribera
- Women’s side: Carla Neisen, Valentine Lothoz, Charity Williams, Breanne Nicholas, Mere Vocevoce, Verenaisi Ditavutu, Maria Garcia, Yasmim Soares, Olivia Fresneda, Sinaida Mokaya, Maria Calvo
- Men’s side: Antoine Zeghdar, Paulin Riva, Pol Pla, Patrick Odongo, Jayden Keelan, Ethan Waddleton, Ryan Oosthuizen, Tom Burton, Regan Ware, Festus Shiasi Safari, Matt Davidson
Sol Feroz: Head coach: Paco Hernández
- Women’s side: Thalia Costa, Jimena Blanco-Hortiguera, Bienne Terita, Ruby Nicholas, Emma Uren, Megan Burns, Sera Bolatini, Nicole Heavirland, Marta Cantabrana, Ilona Zaishliuk, Moreen Muritu
- Men’s side: Manuel Moreno, Luciano Gonzalez, Joseva Talacolo, Nathan Lawson, Francisco Cosculluela, Josep Serres, Juan Ramos, Sebastiaan Jobb, Simon Desert, Lautaro Bazan Velez, George Ooro
ALSO READ: Explained! Why Rugby, including Kenya 7s, is missing from the 2026 Commonwealth Games
Clan Taran: Head coach: Philip Snyman
- Women’s side: Jazmin Felix-Hotham, Heidi Dennis, Mackenzie Davis, Eden Kilgour, Larah Wright, Mariana Talatoka, Chantelle Miell, Kathy Baker, Lauren Torley, Sheila Chajira, Camilla Carvalho
- Men’s side: Roderick Solo, Shilton van Wyk, Selvyn Davids, Ricardo Duarttee, Zain Davids, Dylan Collier, Diego Ardao Ferres, John Okoth, Tom Emery, Quewin Nortje, Vincent Onyala
Atlantic Novas: Head coach: Kelly Brazier
- Women’s side: Krissy Scurfield, Faith Nathan, Nia Toliver, Ellie Boatman, Isla Norman-Bell, Sesenieli Donu, Silvia Morales, Alex Kelter, Chiharu Nakamura, Natalia Pamieta, Yuna Saigo
- Men’s side: Lucas Lacamp, Stephen Tomasin, Maurice Longbottom, Jeremiah Matana, Jaime Manteca, Enahemo Artaud, Ben Dalton, Tobia Sainz-Trapaga, Ryan Apps, Aaron Cummings, Chrisant Ojwang