In my walking through the history of Kenyan rugby I will focus on the various cups that we use to find the best in our clubs.
THE KENYA CUP:
This is the premier rugby union competiton in Kenya, which is organised annually by the body in charge of running the sport in the country,Kenya Rugby Union [KRU].The cup is contested by eight teams, with all the teams based in Nairobi except Nakuru RFC which is situated in Nakuru town. The teams are ; Nondescript RFC,Impala RFC,Kenya Harlequins RFC,Mwamba RFC,Mean Machine RFC,Kenya Commercial Bank[KCB]RFC,Strathmore University RFC and Nakuru RFC.
The cup was introduced in 1970 and Impala RFC were crowned the first champions.The current holders Kenya Harlequins RFC are the club that has won the most number of titles.
THE ERIC SHIRLEY SHIELD:
This is the second tier in the domestic rugby union league in Kenya and is related to the Kenya Cup and was introduced in 1970.The ESS was split into two pools of eight teams each in 2010,with pool A consisting of mainly teams from Nairobi, while pool B consisted of teams from Western Kenya.This move was an effort by the KRU to promote the game in Western Kenya.The current holders are Homeboyz RFC.
A major upset happened in 1982 when Lenana School won the ESS.
THE BAMBURI SUPER SERIES:
It is an East African rugby union competition with eight teams from the region;five[Rhinos,Cheetahs,Lions,Sharks and Buffaloes] from Kenya,two from Uganda[Ruwenzori and Victoria] and one from Tanzania[Twigas].
The Rhinos franchise has the most titles for the BSS and were there winners of the first tournament in 2003 .They are the current holders and the only franchise to have retained a title[2009 & 2010]
The series started in 2003 and Unga Limited was the title sponsors, in 2004 UAP insurance were the title sponsors. It was not until the 3rd year[2005] that Bamburi Cement became the title sponsors.
The series has never been won by a team from outside Kenya. In 2010 the series was expanded from its traditional homes of RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi[Kenya],Friedkin Recreational centre in Arusha[Tanzania] and Kyadondo Grounds in Kampala[Uganda] to also include Nakuru Town and Mumias Town both in Kenya.
ENTERPRISE CUP:
This is an annual rugby union competition in East Africa, though it frequently appears like an all Kenyan affair due to financial constraints for the teams in Uganda and Tanzania that makes it hard for them to travel to there matches in the different countries.
The original cup was donated by sailors from the HMS Enterprise who toured East Africa in 1928 and was at first politely turned down by the RFUK but accepted later in the year when it was sent to them by the sailors.
In 1929 the Rugby Football Union Of Kenya[RFUK] decided to use the pre-existing Rugby Gymkhana[Rugby Weekend] where once a year the clubs used meet from all over Kenya to play some matches and enjoy peripheral social activities.The event was staged at Parklands Sports Club[the then home of Nondescript RFC], Nairobi due to its location.The proposed competition for 1929 failed to take place, so the next year the [RFUK] agreed to subsidise the teams travel costs.
The Enterprise Cup was first contested and awarded to Nairobi district in 1930,which was coincedentally the year the HMS Enterprise made her second and final visit to Kenya , the Cup was an inter-districts competition.The Enterprise Cup has been played each year except in 1940-1946 due to world war ll and in 1987 when the RFUEA Grounds was used in the All African Games.
The modern competition between clubs started in 1973.
The current holders are Kenya Harlequins.
The club with the most titles is NONDESCRIPT RFC.
This is the history of the club competitions in Kenya.We will focus on the individual club histories next blog.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
101 YEARS OF RUGBY IN KENYA
The intelligent learn from history, while the not so blessed learn from experience. So today i stand and turn back to look at the years covered by rugby in Kenya, and trace the history of this sport that is my life and love.
The first recorded game of rugby in Kenya was in 1909 between a predominantly British officials team and a mainly Afrikaaner settlers team in Eldoret.
The Rugby Football Union Of Kenya[RFU-K] was formed in 1923 which was the same year that the Nairobi District team split to form Nondescripts RFC and Harlequins RFC[not the current Kenya Harlequins which was formed in 1952] which makes Nondies the oldest rugby club in the country,followed by Impala which was formed in 1930.
The RFU-K was incorporated into Rugby Football Of East Africa [RFUEA] in 1956.The Kenya Rugby Football Union [KRFU] was formed in 1970.Kenya is a founder member of the Confederation of Africa Rugby[CAR] which was formed in January 1986 in Tunis,it was also attended by officials from Morocco, Tanzania,Senegal,Ivory Coast,Madagascar and the Seychelles.
Until the mid-1970's rugby in the country was played mainly by expatriates.This changed once the new "black" clubs were formed;Mean Machine and Mwamba.Today the sport is majorly played by the indigenous.
THE NEXT BLOG WILL FOCUS ON THE HISTORY OF THE VARIOUS CLUB CUPS.
The first recorded game of rugby in Kenya was in 1909 between a predominantly British officials team and a mainly Afrikaaner settlers team in Eldoret.
The Rugby Football Union Of Kenya[RFU-K] was formed in 1923 which was the same year that the Nairobi District team split to form Nondescripts RFC and Harlequins RFC[not the current Kenya Harlequins which was formed in 1952] which makes Nondies the oldest rugby club in the country,followed by Impala which was formed in 1930.
The RFU-K was incorporated into Rugby Football Of East Africa [RFUEA] in 1956.The Kenya Rugby Football Union [KRFU] was formed in 1970.Kenya is a founder member of the Confederation of Africa Rugby[CAR] which was formed in January 1986 in Tunis,it was also attended by officials from Morocco, Tanzania,Senegal,Ivory Coast,Madagascar and the Seychelles.
Until the mid-1970's rugby in the country was played mainly by expatriates.This changed once the new "black" clubs were formed;Mean Machine and Mwamba.Today the sport is majorly played by the indigenous.
THE NEXT BLOG WILL FOCUS ON THE HISTORY OF THE VARIOUS CLUB CUPS.
Monday, July 12, 2010
THE QUESTION I ASK IS HOW GOOD IS KENYAN RUGBY
The past week has been great for those who where desparate to have their faith in our 15's rugby restored,me included.
The team won 21-5 against Uganda and we at the stands sung our voices haorse in celebration as we thumped our chest with gust to proclaim our prowess in rugby, but the following morning while nursing my hangover,i remembered an answer that the famous Greek philosopher Socrates gave to a question that a friend asked him concerning the degree of goodness in his wife which was known to be poor at best. Socrates asked the friend, 'Compared to what.'
So as we match with a new gait in pride after the victory over Uganda and say we are good, lets take a moment and take stoke of our progress and while we are at it, lets ask ourselves ''We are good compared to what?''
I personally belive that more is learnt in defeat than in victory,because often with victory comes arrogance and pride while, loss comes with humility and a need to workhard and smart for better results next time.
If we compare ourselves with teams we mostly win against then our development while at best stagnate or more likely detoriate, because for as to grow we have to take on the big guys and swallow our pride and be ready to constantly and persistently improve our game and have a mindset that is ready to learn new things and be open to change and doing things differantly.
Get me correctly, lest you think that the win against Uganda is not good according to me, for it is,rather i am saying that we should give our self a pat on the back for the win and then get down to analyzing the loss to Mpalanga as we aim for 2015, and start putting measures in places to make sure this was not another useless trip down south like 4 years ago when we were thrashed but did not take the opportunity to learn from the experiance.
On the game against Uganda, we won but our ball handling was wanting many a times. My man of the match had a tie with both INNOCENT SIMIYU AND OSCAR OUMA MAKING the cut.
TILL THE NEXT BLOG.
The team won 21-5 against Uganda and we at the stands sung our voices haorse in celebration as we thumped our chest with gust to proclaim our prowess in rugby, but the following morning while nursing my hangover,i remembered an answer that the famous Greek philosopher Socrates gave to a question that a friend asked him concerning the degree of goodness in his wife which was known to be poor at best. Socrates asked the friend, 'Compared to what.'
So as we match with a new gait in pride after the victory over Uganda and say we are good, lets take a moment and take stoke of our progress and while we are at it, lets ask ourselves ''We are good compared to what?''
I personally belive that more is learnt in defeat than in victory,because often with victory comes arrogance and pride while, loss comes with humility and a need to workhard and smart for better results next time.
If we compare ourselves with teams we mostly win against then our development while at best stagnate or more likely detoriate, because for as to grow we have to take on the big guys and swallow our pride and be ready to constantly and persistently improve our game and have a mindset that is ready to learn new things and be open to change and doing things differantly.
Get me correctly, lest you think that the win against Uganda is not good according to me, for it is,rather i am saying that we should give our self a pat on the back for the win and then get down to analyzing the loss to Mpalanga as we aim for 2015, and start putting measures in places to make sure this was not another useless trip down south like 4 years ago when we were thrashed but did not take the opportunity to learn from the experiance.
On the game against Uganda, we won but our ball handling was wanting many a times. My man of the match had a tie with both INNOCENT SIMIYU AND OSCAR OUMA MAKING the cut.
TILL THE NEXT BLOG.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
MY HAT IS OFF TO THE POSITIVES IN KENYAN RUGBY
Kudos to the entire 15's team for the victory over Uganda as much as my money was on the cranes and your win made me eat humble pie, hope you will repeat the same this weekend at the RFUEA GROUNDS.
Today I write to pay tribute for the good things in our rugby and give respect where it is due for as much as it seems all cloudy there are silver linings in the rugby in Kenya.There are the steps we are making towards a better rugby nation and failure to mention these positives will be a step in the wrong direction for those among us who say we have the future of rugby in Kenya in our hearts for in order to get to the next level we must shame and discourage the things that are holding back rugby in our nation but also applaud and encourage with similar zeal the attempts to steer our rugby to better heights.
The KRU has in the just concluded season made some significant strides in the right direction.They allowed for the live televising of the semifinals and finals of the Kenya Cup and the BSS which allowed for more people to be exposed to the game which in itself helps to increase the rugby fun base and expose our players to many opportunities that come with being viewed across the globe.More games should be televised on both local and international media.The staging of two legs of the BSS in Nakuru and Mumias is a big plus as we have to popularize the sport outside Nairobi to help in the growth of the game in the country, hope to see more matches played in towns not associated with the game of rugby.The creation of a franchise for Western and Nyanza in the BSS and the creation of the western leg in the ESS is a shot in the arm for kenyan rugby as we aim to increase our player base. FOR THESE THREE MOVES BY THE UNION WHICH TO ME WILL BENEFIT THE GAME OF RUGBY IN THE COUNTRY, I SALUTE THE PEOPLE AT KRU.
As I approach what to me is the most important positives I have to mention the men who to me are the pillars of kenyan rugby at the moment not only because of their dazzling skills but more so for their heart,spirit,dedication,passion and their complete and selfless sacrifice for their clubs and country. To me these three's spirit is what each rugby player should strive to have they are ;NAMCOS, KHAYANGE AND KIPTOO.
To me the greatest positive in Kenyan rugby is the emergance of young rugby players who if developed properly will take Kenya to its golden era in rugby.These players are passionate,focused,hardworking and determined to excel in their rugby and they have proven their worth at club level and for me the future of kenyan rugby couldn't have been in better hands. I will mention but a few; PATRICE,AMBUNYA,NICK,ACHAYO, KA'NGETHE BROTHERS AND OJWACH FOR QUINS,ISINDU,CURTIS AND OLANDO FOR KCB,ALEX,BIKO AND SHAWN FOR NONDIES,SEJA AND GISORE FOR IMPALA,OMBACHI FOR MWAMBA, FELIX FOR MACHINE,OSCAR FOR NAKURU,KEPHA FOR STRATHMORE AND MOSETI FOR HOMEBOYZ, I SALUTE YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS THAT GIVE ME HOPE FOR THE DAWN OF A RUGBY DYNASTY IN KENYA AND FOR THAT A STANDING OVATION FROM ME YOU GET.
Lets meet at the terraces on Saturday.Till then so long.
Today I write to pay tribute for the good things in our rugby and give respect where it is due for as much as it seems all cloudy there are silver linings in the rugby in Kenya.There are the steps we are making towards a better rugby nation and failure to mention these positives will be a step in the wrong direction for those among us who say we have the future of rugby in Kenya in our hearts for in order to get to the next level we must shame and discourage the things that are holding back rugby in our nation but also applaud and encourage with similar zeal the attempts to steer our rugby to better heights.
The KRU has in the just concluded season made some significant strides in the right direction.They allowed for the live televising of the semifinals and finals of the Kenya Cup and the BSS which allowed for more people to be exposed to the game which in itself helps to increase the rugby fun base and expose our players to many opportunities that come with being viewed across the globe.More games should be televised on both local and international media.The staging of two legs of the BSS in Nakuru and Mumias is a big plus as we have to popularize the sport outside Nairobi to help in the growth of the game in the country, hope to see more matches played in towns not associated with the game of rugby.The creation of a franchise for Western and Nyanza in the BSS and the creation of the western leg in the ESS is a shot in the arm for kenyan rugby as we aim to increase our player base. FOR THESE THREE MOVES BY THE UNION WHICH TO ME WILL BENEFIT THE GAME OF RUGBY IN THE COUNTRY, I SALUTE THE PEOPLE AT KRU.
As I approach what to me is the most important positives I have to mention the men who to me are the pillars of kenyan rugby at the moment not only because of their dazzling skills but more so for their heart,spirit,dedication,passion and their complete and selfless sacrifice for their clubs and country. To me these three's spirit is what each rugby player should strive to have they are ;NAMCOS, KHAYANGE AND KIPTOO.
To me the greatest positive in Kenyan rugby is the emergance of young rugby players who if developed properly will take Kenya to its golden era in rugby.These players are passionate,focused,hardworking and determined to excel in their rugby and they have proven their worth at club level and for me the future of kenyan rugby couldn't have been in better hands. I will mention but a few; PATRICE,AMBUNYA,NICK,ACHAYO, KA'NGETHE BROTHERS AND OJWACH FOR QUINS,ISINDU,CURTIS AND OLANDO FOR KCB,ALEX,BIKO AND SHAWN FOR NONDIES,SEJA AND GISORE FOR IMPALA,OMBACHI FOR MWAMBA, FELIX FOR MACHINE,OSCAR FOR NAKURU,KEPHA FOR STRATHMORE AND MOSETI FOR HOMEBOYZ, I SALUTE YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS THAT GIVE ME HOPE FOR THE DAWN OF A RUGBY DYNASTY IN KENYA AND FOR THAT A STANDING OVATION FROM ME YOU GET.
Lets meet at the terraces on Saturday.Till then so long.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
THE FOLLY THAT IS KENYAN RUGBY
As am sitted under this tree sipping the just legalized "AFRICAN ALCOHOL BRAND" in my native western province, am in the most foul of moods seeing the students in my neigbouring school preparing for next years rugby interschool games,my heart bleeds not so much from the bitter taste of my drink as of the waste that is of rugby talent in this our rugby naive country, for how else can we describe management of the sport in the country but with the word naivity.
Over the years the type of rugby that has found its way from western has taken those among us who know class when we see one, out of this world into a rugby heaven. Be it kakamega School,Musingu School,Maseno School or St.Mary's Yala among others for between this schools two thirds of rugby school games have been shared at nationals, yet these schools got no support from the "UNION" to ensure that talent is tapped at an early stage and helped to grow,what makes this so much surprising is that most of this young players are self taught but maybe there in, is there secret.
At an early age they have come to learn that we are the sole determiners of our future and that hard work spent on training from the eyes of the crowd, translates to success on game day.
Name me the national team players and only a few have no links to western kenya from Tall,Collo,Lavin,Mwanja,Nyikuli to name but a few not forgeting coach Benja and the union chairman Mr.Omwela yet all these guyz are doing nothing to better the places they are from.
We as rugby lovers fail to see that for our rugby to grow we have to strengthen our player identification and developing systems and also popularize and support the game outside the confines of Nairobi.
The number of clubs in the Kenya Cup should be increased and sufficient funding sourced for the development of fifteens rugby for only then can true growth be seen in our game for were else can we get better if not by ensuring that we increase our player base and enhance competition for the national team jersey .
Over the years the type of rugby that has found its way from western has taken those among us who know class when we see one, out of this world into a rugby heaven. Be it kakamega School,Musingu School,Maseno School or St.Mary's Yala among others for between this schools two thirds of rugby school games have been shared at nationals, yet these schools got no support from the "UNION" to ensure that talent is tapped at an early stage and helped to grow,what makes this so much surprising is that most of this young players are self taught but maybe there in, is there secret.
At an early age they have come to learn that we are the sole determiners of our future and that hard work spent on training from the eyes of the crowd, translates to success on game day.
Name me the national team players and only a few have no links to western kenya from Tall,Collo,Lavin,Mwanja,Nyikuli to name but a few not forgeting coach Benja and the union chairman Mr.Omwela yet all these guyz are doing nothing to better the places they are from.
We as rugby lovers fail to see that for our rugby to grow we have to strengthen our player identification and developing systems and also popularize and support the game outside the confines of Nairobi.
The number of clubs in the Kenya Cup should be increased and sufficient funding sourced for the development of fifteens rugby for only then can true growth be seen in our game for were else can we get better if not by ensuring that we increase our player base and enhance competition for the national team jersey .
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