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Kenya Lionesses duo set for historic Rugby Premier League debut
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Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 01.05.26. | 13:01
Chajira will turn out for the Chennai Bulls, while Adhiambo has been drafted by the Mumbai Dreamers, as the league expands to include women’s teams for the first time
Kenya Lionesses stars Sheila Chajira and Grace Adhiambo are set to make history as they prepare to feature in the inaugural women’s competition of the Rugby Premier League (RPL).
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Chajira will turn out for the Chennai Bulls, while Adhiambo has been drafted by the Mumbai Dreamers, as the league expands to include women’s teams for the first time.
The introduction of the women’s category in the 2026 season represents a major step forward for the competition, which debuted last year as the world’s first franchise-based rugby sevens league.
The second edition is scheduled to run from June 16 to 28 at the Gachibowli Stadium, with organisers promising another high-energy spectacle featuring top international stars and emerging Indian talent.
Chajira heads into the tournament with an already decorated career. The 32-year-old, a mainstay in Kenya’s women’s rugby setup for over a decade, recently earned recognition beyond the pitch after being appointed an Athlete Role Model for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Her selection places her among a select group of former Olympians tasked with mentoring and inspiring the next generation of athletes.
It is a role that reflects her leadership and resilience throughout a career that has seen her represent Kenya at both the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Chajira’s versatility has also been key to her longevity, having featured in both the sevens and fifteens formats. In the 15s game, she operates as a loose forward and centre, underlining her adaptability and importance to the national side.
Adhiambo, meanwhile, brings a wealth of experience to the Mumbai Dreamers. Now in her 11th year with the Lionesses since earning her first call-up in 2015, she has grown into one of Kenya’s most dependable performers.
Her career has taken her beyond local borders, with professional stints at French club Racing 92 and Japan’s Nagato Blue Angels, experiences that have sharpened her game on the international stage.
She has represented Kenya at the Tokyo Olympics, featured in the WXV3 tournament, competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics qualifiers, and played in multiple Challenger Series events.
Her influence was particularly evident during the 2025 Challenger Series, where she played a pivotal role in securing Kenya’s qualification for the HSBC SVNS 2.
The expansion of the RPL to include women’s teams has been widely welcomed. Rugby India president Rahul Bose described it as a dream realised.
“It has always been our dream at Rugby India to have an RPL Women’s edition. This year that dream comes to life. Women’s 7s rugby across the world is just as exciting as men’s 7s rugby, and our Indian women are superb,” he said.
Four franchises: Chennai Bulls, Delhi Redz, Mumbai Dreamers, and Kolkata Banga Tigers will field women’s teams in the historic debut season, adding a new dimension to a league that already boasts strong representation from major Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bhubaneswar.