The continental stage is officially set, and the scorching-hot island of Mauritius is about to become a rugby battlefield once again! Rugby Africa has officially dropped the dates and pools for the highly anticipated 2026 Rugby Africa Men’s 7s Cup, scheduled to go down from June 20 to June 21 at the state-of-the-art SPARC complex in Cascavelle.
This year’s edition carries massive weight, pulling double duty as the ultimate celebration for Rugby Africa’s historic 40th anniversary. Twelve elite African nations will descend upon Mauritius to fight for ultimate continental supremacy in a weekend promised to be packed with high-octane speed, bone-crushing tackles, and pure sevens magic.
The Pools: Heavyweights on Collision Courses
The official draw has thrown up some absolute mouth-watering fixtures across three beautifully balanced groups:
Pool A: The Champions’ Territory
Defending champions South Africa headline the opening pool. The Blitzboks ran riot last year, dismantling Madagascar 28-12 in the final to take the crown, and they enter this year as outright favorites. They are joined by a hungry Zambia side, Nigeria, and the passionate host nation, Mauritius, who will look to use the home crowd to cause an almighty upset.
Pool B: The Battle of the Tacticians
Pool B is an absolute minefield featuring 2024 winners Uganda and last year’s sensational silver-medalists Madagascar. This clash alone will draw massive eyeballs, but neither can afford to sleep on Ghana or a tricky Tunisia side capable of unlocking any defense on their day.
Pool C: The Ultimate Redemption Arc
This is where the drama hits the roof! Continental giants Kenya find themselves drawn in a fascinating Pool C alongside three-time African kings Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, and Morocco.
Morans Eye Revenge and History
For Kenya—the most successful team in Africa Men’s Sevens history with an incredible six titles—this tournament is personal. Having rested their primary Shujaa stars during a hectic global calendar, Kenya is deploying their formidable second-string side, the Kenya Morans, to reclaim the trophy they last held aloft in 2023.
The Morans, under the tactical guidance of head coach Louis Kisia, have a massive chip on their shoulder. In the 2025 tournament, a heartbreaking, late semifinal collapse saw them falling 10-14 to Madagascar. Things went from bad to worse in the bronze medal match, where they let an early lead slip away to lose a 21-19 thriller against Zimbabwe, forcing them to settle for a frustrating fourth place.
Landing in Pool C means the Morans get an immediate shot at redemption against the very same Zimbabwe Cheetahs who denied them a podium finish last year. Expect fireworks when those two giants clash in the group stages.
Will South Africa defend their throne, or can the Kenya Morans rise from last year’s heartbreak to bring the silverware back home to East Africa? Clear your schedules for June 20–21, because the Mauritius Sevens is going to be an unforgettable ride!
