Kenya Sevens invited to inaugural New York Sevens with Sh136m prize pool in July

Kenya’s Sevens rugby team, known as Shujaa, has received an invitation to the inaugural New York Sevens tournament scheduled for July 15.

The competition is expected to be fierce, with some of the world’s top teams, including New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, France, Fiji, Ireland, and the USA, competing for the biggest cash prize in Sevens rugby.

The tournament is also notable as it marks the launch of America’s first professional major Sevens league by the World Rugby Football League. The one-day international rugby festival, which is expected to draw a crowd of 25,000 fans, will feature 16 games and will take place at the 25,000-capacity Red Bull Arena, home to Major Soccer League side New York Red Bulls.

The President of 44FiftyFive Sports & Entertainment and Head of Operations for NYC Sevens, Rob Cornelius, emphasized the quality of teams set to grace the tournament.

Tickets for the tournament will be available at Sh7,500, with plans for the 2024 and 2025 editions of the tournament featuring even more games and larger cash prizes.