The 2025 Safari7s tournament received a major boost following a KSh 22 million sponsorship announcement by Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), through its flagship beer brand, Tusker. The partnership was unveiled at a launch event held at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi on Friday 03rd October 2025, marking another significant milestone in the longstanding relationship between the brand and the Kenya Rugby Union.
Tournament Director Kevin Wambura shared key technical details of the 27th edition, revealing that this yearโs event will host 20 teams. The menโs competition will feature 12 teams divided into three pools, while the womenโs category will include eight teams across two pools.
The tournament is scheduled to kick off on Friday, October 10, with the opening round of matches. Later that evening, the popular veteransโ category will be played under the floodlights at Nyayo Stadium. The action will continue on Saturday with the second and third rounds, culminating on Sunday with the knockout stages, semi-finals, and finals.
Speaking during the launch, Christine Kariuki, Head of Mainstream Beer at KBL, expressed Tuskerโs pride in supporting Safari7s once again. โIt is both an honor and a pleasure for us at Tusker to once again be part of the Safari7s,โ she said.
Kariuki reflected on Tuskerโs enduring involvement with the tournament since the 1990s, describing it as โtruly exciting to watch the game grow over the years,โ and reaffirmed the brandโs commitment to supporting rugbyโs development in Kenya.
The KSh 22 million sponsorship includes KSh 12 million in cash and KSh 10 million in kind. A significant portion of the in-kind support will go towards creating the Tusker After Party Village โ a fan-centric entertainment zone aimed at enhancing the overall experience for attendees by blending world-class rugby with unforgettable entertainment.
Kariuki also emphasized that Tuskerโs investment goes beyond sport: โSupporting institutions and brands through sponsorships ultimately strengthens the broader community.โ
Kenya Rugby Union Vice Chairman Moses Ndale expressed heartfelt gratitude to Tusker for their continued support and partnership, which he said has played a vital role in growing the sport locally.
โSponsorships like this are crucial to the development of rugby in Kenya,โ Ndale noted, while urging fans to come out in large numbers to support the 27th edition of Africaโs premier rugby sevens tournament.