Talanta Sports Stadium is set to host its first series of matches after World Rugby selected Nairobi as the opening venue for the 2027 HSBC SVNS 2 rugby sevens tournament.
The competition will be staged at the newly built facility on January 23 and 24, 2027, marking a major milestone for the Talanta Sports City complex as it prepares to host international sporting events.
Nairobi will kick off the three-leg tournament before action moves to Montevideo, Uruguay, on February 20 and 21. The final round will be held in São Paulo, Brazil, on February 27 and 28.
In a statement, World Rugby confirmed the schedule, noting that the competition forms part of preparations for the LA28 Olympic Games.
“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,” the governing body stated.
World Rugby Sevens World Series General Manager Sam Pinder welcomed the return of the three cities, saying the tournament would strengthen the pathway for teams seeking to reach the sport's top international competitions.
“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 selection places Talanta Sports Stadium among the international venues hosting the revised rugby sevens competition, which connects teams to the HSBC SVNS World Championship through a structured promotion pathway.
Beyond the main stadium, Talanta Sports City features three auxiliary pitches designed to support elite training, athlete development and multiple sporting disciplines.
Two of the additional pitches have running tracks surrounding football fields, allowing them to accommodate football training alongside track and field activities.
The third auxiliary pitch is designed for both rugby and football, providing additional space for training and competition as Kenya expands its capacity to host major sporting events.
The facilities are expected to support teams preparing for international tournaments, while the wider complex is also being prepared for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17.
The rugby announcement comes as construction work at the complex approaches completion. The Raila Odinga International Stadium, located within Talanta Sports City, was reported to be 94 per cent complete, while the wider Talanta Sports Complex had surpassed 92 per cent completion, according to an earlier update.
The 2027 HSBC SVNS 2 schedule follows the inaugural edition of the revised competition structure, with Nairobi, Montevideo and São Paulo also hosting events under the new format.
The three-tier system links regional qualification to HSBC SVNS 3 and SVNS 2, giving men's and women's teams opportunities to progress through the international sevens pathway towards the World Championship.
The tournament announcement also adds to Nairobi's growing profile as a destination for major international sporting events.
Kenya was recently selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships after Nairobi beat competing bids from cities including London and Rome.
Hosting the rugby sevens tournament will provide another opportunity for Kenya to showcase its sporting infrastructure and attract international teams, fans and visitors as the country prepares for a busy calendar of global competitions.
