A totally sold-out tournament, an afterparty for the books, Kabras RFC lifting the trophy and an electric atmosphere defined the 2026 Driftwood 7s.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsFrom the stands to the Driftwood village, Mombasa Sports Club was alive throughout the weekend as rugby fans turned up in large numbers to watch some of Kenya’s best sides battle for honours.The action on the pitch was matched by the atmosphere around it. Fans were treated to entertaining rugby, music, activations and a weekend experience that continued long after the final whistle.Amonde pinpoints reason for KCB's Driftwood Sevens final defeat to KabrasEven rain on the opening day failed to put a dampener on the occasion.As rugby took centre stage, the village remained full of life, with supporters moving between the matches and the various activities around the venue. When the matches eventually came to an end, the celebrations continued into the night, with renowned Kenyan artistes Charisma and Bensoul electrifying the afterparty.##NAJAVA_MECA_9915626##On the pitch, Kabras RFC capped the weekend in style, defeating KCB Rugby 15-5 in an entertaining final to clinch the Driftwood 7s title.Speaking to Mozzart Sport, the tournament’s Commercial Director Teddy Ndemo noted that the final score was only one measure of the tournament’s success.“Looking at the 36th edition of Driftwood 7s, I can confidently say we achieved what we set out to achieve. For us, success was never going to be judged only by who lifted the trophy.Blak Blad head coach leaves after 15 years to join moneybags KCBOf course, we wanted to see competitive rugby, and we got exactly that.But beyond the results, we wanted people to come to Mombasa, enjoy themselves, experience good rugby and leave feeling that Driftwood is an event they want to come back to every year. From that perspective, I think we had a very successful tournament,” Ndemo said.The organisers have increasingly sought to position Driftwood as more than a rugby tournament, and the 2026 edition provided a glimpse of that vision.##NAJAVA_MECA_9916686##“The success of Driftwood goes beyond what happens for the 14 minutes when two teams are on the field. We have always wanted this to be an experience,” he said.That experience was visible throughout the weekend, with the packed venue, vibrant village and entertainment creating an atmosphere that extended beyond the rugby pitch.The tournament’s impact also stretched beyond Mombasa Sports Club.Kenyan rugby star makes long-awaited debut in CanadaWith 36 teams travelling to the Coast, Driftwood brought with it players, coaches, officials, parents, supporters and fans who required accommodation, transport, food and other services during their stay.“When you bring 36 teams to the Coast, you are also bringing players, coaches, officials, parents, supporters and fans. They need somewhere to stay, they need transport, they eat in restaurants, they visit different places, and they spend money within the local economy.So, when we talk about the success of Driftwood, we also have to look at that bigger picture,” he said.##NAJAVA_MECA_9915740##That wider economic impact is part of what the organisers believe makes the tournament attractive to commercial partners.The 2026 edition also brought new commercial backing, with TotalEnergies joining the tournament while Tusker continued its support.Ndemo believes the growing interest from brands is an indication that Driftwood is evolving into a valuable commercial platform.Emotional Amonde on how family welfare made him drop Kenya Sevens for KCBThe next task is to build on that momentum.The organisers now aim to attract more partners by demonstrating that Driftwood offers brands an opportunity to engage with a large and diverse audience in an environment that combines sport, entertainment and the Coast experience.“The better we make that experience, the easier it becomes to bring more partners on board,” he said.##NAJAVA_MECA_9915605##Driftwood’s growth comes against the backdrop of a history that stretches back more than four decades.The tournament takes its name from Driftwood Beach Club in Malindi. In the early 1980s, the hotel donated the Driftwood trophy and helped push for an old sevens tournament to be revived at Mombasa Sports Club.The name stuck, and the tournament eventually grew into one of the established stops on the National Sevens Circuit.Shujaa centre relishes chance to test himself alongside new teammates at Ultimate 7s“Every year we sit down and ask ourselves what worked, what didn’t work and what we can do differently.We are not looking at the 36th edition and saying, ‘we have made it.’ Far from it. We think there is still a lot more we can do,” he concluded.
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