…….Battle Morocco, Zimbabwe, Senegal and Four Others for Lone Qualification Ticket
Rugby Africa has confirmed Nigeria’s senior men’s national rugby team, the Stallions, among eight nations set to compete in the World Rugby SVNS 3 Qualifiers 2026 in Uganda from September 26 to 27.
The competition was initially scheduled as a 12-team Africa Men’s Sevens tournament in Mauritius but was postponed following the Ebola outbreak. Rugby Africa has now revised the format, with Uganda hosting the eight-team SVNS 3 qualifying tournament, while the Africa Men’s Sevens tournament will still take place in Mauritius in October.
The Mauritius tournament will feature South Africa, Kenya, hosts Mauritius, and Burkina Faso with four additional teams yet to be confirmed.
In Uganda, the Stallions will battle Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Tunisia, Morocco and Senegal for the coveted qualification ticket to the global sevens circuit.
The tournament will also open the 2026 Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens Series, with the winner earning qualification for the World Rugby SVNS 3 2027 competition.
Beyond qualification, the tournament offers Nigeria an opportunity to improve its continental standing. The winner will be ranked third in Africa, while the team finishing last will occupy eighth position.
For the Stallions, the Uganda assignment is therefore more than a continental competition. It is an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s growing rugby sevens programme, improve its African ranking and secure a pathway to the international stage.
Nigeria will be hoping to seize the opportunity and emerge from Uganda with the coveted ticket to the World Rugby SVNS 3 2027 circuit.