A new 60,000-seater stadium in Nairobi, Kenya, is preparing to welcome international rugby, with Talanta Sports Stadium set to host the opening leg of the 2027 HSBC SVNS 2 series in January next year.
The venue, one of Kenya’s most significant sporting infrastructure projects, will stage the tournament on January 23 and 24, 2027, as the international rugby sevens calendar returns to the Kenyan capital.
World Rugby recently confirmed the dates, making Nairobi the first stop on a three-tournament series that will also visit South America.
For a stadium still approaching full operational readiness, it represents a significant milestone in hosting this competition.
This is because the event itself will provide an early test of the venue’s ability to accommodate an international sporting event before Kenya co-hosts the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
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Rugby sevens takes centre stage
The tournament in Nairobi will open the 2027 HSBC SVNS 2 campaign, with Montevideo, Uruguay, hosting the second event on February 20 and 21, followed by the final rounds of action in São Paulo, Brazil, one week later.
The three-stop series forms part of World Rugby’s international sevens pathway, connecting second-tier teams to the opportunity to reach the HSBC SVNS World Championship.
Men’s and women’s teams will collect points across the events, with the top four in each category advancing to the championship to face leading international sides, such as South Africa, New Zealand and Great Britain.
Road to the 2028 Olympics
The competition also arrives at an important point in the wider Olympic cycle, with World Rugby highlighting the pathway's growing significance as qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Games comes into focus.
For teams involved, Nairobi will therefore be more than an opportunity to play at a new stadium. A strong start could prove valuable in a competition where consistency across the three tournaments will determine who progresses.
The top four men’s and women’s teams at the end of next year's HSBC SVNS World Championship will automatically qualify for the Olympics.
A further six men’s and six women’s teams will qualify through regional qualifiers, while one men’s and one women’s team will secure their place through the Olympic Repechage in June 2028.
The five biggest rugby stadiums in the world- ranked
5. Principality Stadium, Wales – 74,500
The home of Welsh rugby in Cardiff. Famous for its roof and loud crowds, it has hosted some of the sport's biggest matches.
4. Stade de France, France – 81,338
Located near Paris, the stadium hosted the 2007 and 2023 Rugby World Cup finals. It also hosts France's biggest international matches.
3. Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, England – 82,000
The home of English rugby and one of the sport's most famous grounds. It hosts England's home Six Nations matches.
2. Stadium Australia, Australia – 84,000
Built for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the stadium hosted England's famous 2003 Rugby World Cup final win over Australia.
1. FNB Stadium, South Africa – 94,736
Also known as Soccer City, this huge ground in Johannesburg hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup final. It has also staged major Springboks matches.
