Andrew Amonde outlines key lessons Kenya Sevens learned from South Africa camp

Kenya Sevens strength and conditioning coach Andrew Amonde has expressed confidence in Shujaa’s readiness for the 2026 HSBC SVNS Division 2 campaign after what he described as a tremendously productive high-performance training camp in South Africa.

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Shujaa departed for South Africa on Monday, 12 January, for a week-long camp aimed at sharpening their preparations ahead of the opening leg of the Division 2 series, which Kenya will host for the first time in history from Saturday, 14 to Sunday, 15 February at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

According to Amonde, the camp offered valuable exposure and learning opportunities, with the team playing multiple training matches against the South African Sevens side, the Blitzboks.

“The camp was very productive, and there was a lot of learning. We travelled to South Africa and played the Blitzboks in several matches, more than three training games,” Amonde told Mozzart Sport.

The KCB Rugby coach further noted that the biggest gains came as the camp progressed, particularly after the third match against the Blitzboks, when the players began to fully settle in.

“The biggest lessons came after our third match against the Boks, when we saw the boys settle in, learn a great deal, and improve their fitness levels.

After that, we gave them a short break. Last week, we allowed them to return to their clubs to represent them, and now we are set to regroup and prepare over the next two weeks,” he averred.

With the Nairobi leg fast approaching, Amonde believes Shujaa are peaking at the right time and has called on fans to rally behind both the men’s and women’s teams.

“Our form is at its best. I believe we have done a lot of work, and there has been significant progression from the first leg. I am confident it is enough.

We will go out and represent our country with pride. All we ask is for our fans to turn up in large numbers and support both Shujaa and the Lionesses.

There is no better feeling than playing at home. It is about bringing in the crowds and having them push the boys throughout,” he said.

The Division 2 series will feature three legs, starting in Nairobi before moving to Montevideo, Uruguay (March 21–22), and concluding in São Paulo, Brazil (March 28–29). Each tournament will feature six teams per gender, with the top four advancing to the SVNS World Championship.

From the combined 12 teams at the championship stage, the top eight will earn promotion to Division 1 status for the 2027 SVNS season, offering Shujaa a clear pathway back to the elite tier.

Both Shujaa and the Kenya Lionesses will compete in the 2026 Division 2 series. Confirmed men’s teams include Kenya, USA, Uruguay, and Germany.

South Africa continues to play a key role in Kenyan rugby development, with several locally based players having previously benefited from high-performance programs in the country.

Kabras RFC’s Jackson Siketi, Kisumu’s David Williams, Impala’s Andrew Matoka, and Mwamba’s Dennis Ndayala are among those who have sharpened their skills through the Rhinos’ high-performance camp in Cape Town.

Overseas-based players such as Collins Shikoli and Alvin Marube have also gained from similar initiatives.

The approach mirrors a recent strategy used by the Kenya Simbas, who held their preparations in South Africa ahead of the Rugby Africa Cup, the qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Shujaa were officially relegated from the HSBC SVNS following a major structural overhaul confirmed by World Rugby on Thursday, 1 May 2025. The new competition model reduced the number of core teams from 12 to eight per gender, significantly reshaping the global rugby sevens landscape.