KCB and Kenya Harlequins to curtain raise 2024 Elgon Cup

KCB's Francis Mwita fight it out with Eric Shikuku of Kenya Quins (right) during Kenya Cup semi finals against Kenya Quins at KCB grounds on Saturday, May 11, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Rugby fans are set for an action-packed Saturday, as KCB Rugby and Kenya Harlequins face off in a friendly match at the RFUEA Grounds to warm up the crowd ahead of the much-anticipated Elgon Cup clash between Kenya Simbas and Uganda Cranes.

The day’s events will begin with an under-16 boys' match between Karen-based Kings of Rugby and AfriImpact Sports Academy from Rongai, offering a glimpse of future Kenyan rugby stars in action from as early as 10:00 a.m.

The opening U16 match promises a showdown between rising rugby academies.

Kings of Rugby, led by former Quins player Charles Njoroge, regularly trains at RFUEA Grounds, while AfriImpact Sports Academy, coached by Maxwell Omondi—a former Upperhill player now with Catholic Monks—trains at Catholic University in Rongai.

This youth clash will set the tone for a day of rugby spectacle.

At noon, fans will witness KCB Rugby take on Kenya Harlequins in what promises to be a fiery pre-season friendly. This will be Harlequins' first competitive fifteens match since the end of the Enterprise Cup, while KCB recently featured in the Impala Floodlit tournament.

The friendly offers both clubs an opportunity to gauge their squads ahead of the upcoming Kenya Cup season, with KCB coach Paul Murunga expected to field a strong lineup to test his charges against their Nairobi rivals.

The main event, the Elgon Cup, will kick off at 4:00 p.m., with Kenya Simbas defending their title against a fierce Uganda Cranes side.

The Simbas have spent the week in a rigorous residential camp in Kakamega and are set to arrive in Nairobi on Wednesday, November 6th, primed for the challenge.

With a full lineup of rugby fixtures, action at the RFUEA Grounds promises an unforgettable day for rugby enthusiasts, marking the beginning of an exciting Elgon Cup series and showcasing the depth of talent in Kenya’s rugby pipeline.