Talanta Sports Complex is set to host its first series of matches after World Rugby confirmed Nairobi as the opening venue for the 2027 HSBC SVNS 2 tournament.
The rugby sevens competition will take place at Talanta Sports Stadium on January 23 and 24, 2027, marking an important sporting event for the new complex.
Nairobi will host the opening leg of the three-event series, followed by Montevideo, Uruguay, on February 20 and 21, before São Paulo, Brazil, hosts the final round on February 27 and 28.
“World Rugby has today confirmed the HSBC SVNS 2 schedule, with three events taking place across January and February as the global rugby sevens calendar continues to build towards the LA28 Olympic Games as scheduled; 23-24 January: Nairobi, Kenya - Talanta Sports Stadium, 20-21 February: Montevideo, Uruguay - Estadio Charrua, 27-28 February: São Paulo, Brazil - Nicolau Alayon Stadium. The announcement follows confirmation of the HSBC SVNS Series and World Championship schedule for 2026/27,” World Rugby stated.
An image of Kenya Sevens Team during the HSBC Series Circuit in France 2025, with a side logo of World Rugby.
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KRU
Confirming the development, World Rugby Sevens World Series General Manager Sam Pinder said the three host cities would build on the previous season’s success and strengthen the competition pathway.
“We are delighted to confirm the return of Nairobi, Montevideo and São Paulo for HSBC SVNS 2 in 2027. Last season demonstrated the importance of this competition in providing teams with a clear and highly competitive pathway to the HSBC SVNS World Championship, while bringing international sevens to passionate rugby audiences around the world,” Pinder stated.
The announcement places Talanta Sports Stadium among the international venues selected for the competition, which forms part of World Rugby’s global pathway towards the HSBC SVNS World Championship.
The wider Talanta Sports City complex includes three additional pitches designed to support elite athlete training and accommodate multiple sporting activities alongside events at the main stadium.
Two auxiliary pitches feature running tracks surrounding football fields, providing training grounds for football teams and supporting track and field activities.
The third auxiliary pitch is designed for rugby and football training and competition, expanding the complex’s capacity to accommodate different sporting disciplines and athlete development programs.
These facilities are intended to support teams preparing for major competitions while the main stadium hosts matches, with the wider complex also being prepared for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
The 2027 HSBC SVNS 2 series follows the inaugural competition on October 11, when Nairobi, Montevideo and São Paulo also hosted events under World Rugby’s revised sevens structure.
The three-tier format connects regional qualification to HSBC SVNS 3 and SVNS 2, offering men’s and women’s teams opportunities to progress towards the World Championship.
This competition comes just months after Nairobi was selected to host the 2029World Athletics Championships, beating cities such as London and Rome.
Talanta Stadium Progress Update
The announcement comes as the Raila Odinga International Stadium at the Talanta Sports City complex is 94 percent complete, while the wider Talanta Sports Complex is reported to be over 92 per cent complete, as announced by Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya in early October
"The construction of the main stadium and most auxiliary works are now in the finishing stages, with construction now more than 94 per cent complete."
This marks a significant improvement, as the auxilliary pitches, which will also be used as training facilities, were are a 40 to 50 per cent completion rate last month.
An image of the Talanta Stadium under construction on June 23, 2026
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@Waziri_Mvurya