Will Laiser Hill and St Peter's Mumias find their mojo?

St Peter's Mumias Boys rugby players in action against Senende Boys during 2023 Western Regional games in Kakamega. [File, Standard]

It may have taken them longer than their peers to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic that halted secondary school games for two years, but they are now back!

Yes! Former national and East Africa rugby 7s champions Laiser Hill Academy and St Peter's Mumias are back and will be among a rich 16-team lineup that will be battling for national glory in Kakamega from Tuesday.

The duo makes a comeback, having last featured at the national games in 2019, for they never went past their respective region's post-Covid.

A lot has surely changed since 2019, Koyonzo Secondary School has been crowned twice, and Friends Boys Secondary School Bwake has also won their maiden title and will be looking to defend it. None of the teams they played in Mombasa that year will be in Kakamega, not even 2017 champions Menengai High School, for the going also got tough for them after the two-year break.

But all eyes will be on the two sleeping giants as rugby enthusiasts hope to see them rise again.

Laiser Hill, who finished second behind Upper Hill at both the 2019 national and East Africa games, returns as Rift Valley finalists. They narrowly lost 17-19 to defending champions Bwake in the regional final.

St Peter's, on the other hand, recaptured their Western Region title after beating Bungoma High School 19-10 in the final.

St Peter's coach Nelson Jaika said that they were glad to be back after many years absence and they were looking to perform well.

"We have been intensely training, rectifying mistakes and strengthening areas that we felt needed improvement based on the analysis of our performances at each level of competition. The boys are determined to go out there and give their best and perform as what is expected of them," Jaika said.

He added that though they are playing at home, that will count for nothing because all teams qualified from their respective regions and go to the competition with the aim of winning the trophy. With Western fielding four teams, among them two-time champions Koyonzo and holders Bwake as well as newcomers, this year's challenge is expected to be very stiff, with only the very best qualifying for the East Africa games.