World Rugby has confirmed that Nairobi will host one of three HSBC SVNS 2 tournaments in January and February 2027, as the international rugby sevens calendar builds towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The Nairobi leg will take place on January 23-24 at Talanta Sports Stadium before the series moves to Montevideo, Uruguay, on February 20-21 and São Paulo, Brazil, on February 27-28.
Montevideo will host its event at Estadio Charrua, while São Paulo's matches will be played at Nicolau Alayon Stadium.
Tournament details and schedule
The announcement follows the confirmation of the HSBC SVNS Series and World Championship schedules for the 2026/27 season.
Nairobi, Montevideo and São Paulo return as hosts after featuring in the inaugural HSBC SVNS 2 competition in 2026, underlining World Rugby's efforts to expand international sevens into growing rugby markets.
World Rugby Sevens World Series General Manager Sam Pinder said the three venues would again provide an important platform for teams seeking to advance through the international competition structure.
Significance of the competition
“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.”
He added that the approach of the LA28 Olympic Games would increase the significance of every stage of the global sevens pathway.
“With qualification for LA28 coming into focus, every stage of the pathway takes on even greater significance. We look forward to working with our host unions and partners to build on the success of last season and deliver three outstanding events for the teams and fans.”
The HSBC SVNS 2 forms the second tier of World Rugby's three-level sevens structure, linking regional qualification and HSBC SVNS 3 to the HSBC SVNS World Championship.
Structure of the sevens series
The model is designed to give men's and women's teams a competitive route towards the top level of international sevens, with opportunities to progress through the series based on their performances.
The 2027 tournaments will therefore provide another opportunity for participating teams to pursue promotion and strengthen their positions in the global competition structure as the road to LA28 gathers pace.
For Kenya, hosting the HSBC SVNS 2 in less than a year, following the inaugural event held at Nyayo National Stadium on February 14–15, 2026, will bring international rugby sevens back to the country as the sport's global calendar moves into a crucial period ahead of the next Olympic Games.
