Kenya Simbas and Shujaa wobble as KCB dominate Kenya Cup action

Kenya Shujaa's celebrating after beating Germany during the 23rd Edition 2021 Safari 7s tournament at The Nyayo National stadium on Sunday, Oct 31, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The 2021 rugby calendar year was fair compared to other disciplines like football, hockey and basketball.

Despite Covid-19 disruptions, Kenya was able to host four successful continental championships despite rugby being among the high-contact sports.

The nation welcomed international rugby for the first time in two years when the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) hosted Safari Sevens, Africa Under-20 Barthes Trophy, Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and Rugby Africa Cup events at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

Locally, KRU also managed to organise a highly contested, but shorter version of the 2021 Kenya Cup that was won by KCB Rugby for the fourth time in a row (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021) to equal Nondies heroics of 1991-1994.

At the same time, Kenya Sevens posted mixed results at the Tokyo Olympics and in the World Sevens Series that saw the star of KCB’s new signing Alvin ‘Buffa’ Otieno shine brighter with thrilling performances in the tour.

Generally it was not a bad season for rugby enthusiasts in Kenya.

Starting from the local scene, KCB won their eighth Kenya Cup title in a stunning comeback after rallying from 20-0 down to beat arch-rivals Kabras Sugar 28-25 in the final staged at Nandi Bears on September 4.

KCB have dominated the national rugby league circuit for years now winning the last four Kenya Cup finals, and are showing no signs of stopping.

Kabras Sugar are the only side that has shown they can go toe to toe with the champions, but even then they have often wilted at the crucial stages having lost each time against them in the final.

Many questioned KRU’s health and safety measures after the final was stopped for one hour and a half hour after KCB duo Isaac Njoroge (neck injury) and Rocky Anguko (broken leg) could not be taken to hospital immediately because the ambulance on standby lacked basic equipment.

Kakamega-based Kabras finished the regular season unbeaten and on top of the standings followed by the bankers whom they defeated 30-23 during the regular season.

The sugar millers blamed their defeat on the long stoppages of the match and KRU’s poor preparation.

The 2021-2022 Kenya Cup season is currently going on and once again unbeaten Kabras are leading the way after four rounds with 20 points same as surprise package Menengai Oilers.

Still in Nairobi, three African nations lined up to battle it out for the Barthes Trophy from June 24-July 11 at Nyayo Stadium after 2018 champions Namibia pulled out because of the coronavirus disruption.

Defending champions Kenya U-20 commonly referred to as Chipu, Senegal and Madagascar played in a round robin format to determine this year’s winner.

Kenya made their intentions of retaining the title clear by thrashing Senegal 50-3 in the opening match before Madagascar ran over the West African side 34-3 to set up an exciting title decider against Kenya.

Chipu retained the Barthes Trophy after narrowly edging out Madagascar 21-20 in an entertaining final.

Kenya Sevens Alvin Otieno celebrates after scoring a try.[Courtesy]

In the 2021 Rugby Africa Cup that ran between July 3-11, Kenya Simbas faced Senegal and Zambia in Pool B in the tournament that doubled up as the African continent’s pathway to the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.

The Senegalese stunned the hosts 20-19 leaving Kenya in a must-win match against Zambia.

Inspired by Fijian-born Jone Kubu of Kabras Sugar, Simbas thrashed Zambia 45-8 to also qualify for the quarter-final scheduled for next year and maintain their dream of qualifying for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Kenya and Senegal together with other winners will face off in the quarter-final which will also be used as Africa’s qualifying round to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The qualifying round will be played in July next year in France where Kenya will face Uganda while Senegal will play Algeria.

Kenya Sevens players after winning brronze in Edmonton Sevens.[Courtesy]

In other quarter-final matches, African champions Namibia will be up against Burkina Faso while Zimbabwe will take on Ivory Coast.

The winners will join automatic qualifiers South Africa, who will be defending their title in 2023. The losing finalists will proceed to the last qualifying round in the Repechage.

Kenya Simbas proceeded to grace the South Africa Tour where they played Currie Cup champions losing 85-17, went down 60-24 against Namibia before defeating Brazil 36-30 and thrashing Diables Barcelona 59-6.

In the women’s category, the national team Lionesses came close to qualifying for the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Kenya’s Lionesses were favourites against Madagascar when the two teams locked horns in the 2021 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup by virtue of being highly ranked.

The Lionesses had beaten Madagascar 35-5 in their last outing of the 2019 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup.

But the Indian Ocean Island side had other ideas as they defeated the Lionesses 27-15 and 10-0 on July 3 and July 11.

Not only did Madagascar register their maiden test wins, but they also climbed in the World Rugby ranking to position 27 while Kenya dropped one place to 25th place.

Hard-fighting Lionesses fell to a 16-15 home loss to Colombia at the Nyayo Stadium on August 25, a result that ended their 2022 Rugby World Cup qualification hopes. Colombia moved to the next phase of the World Cup qualifier.

This year also saw the return of Safari Sevens after it failed to take place last year due to Covid-19 the previous year.

Kenya Sevens Shujaa reclaimed the title on October 31, the first time they won the title since 2016.

The tournament’s Most Valuable player “Buffa’ Otieno and Johnstone Olindi scored a try each as Shujaa beat Germany 12-5 to clinch the 2021 Safari Sevens title while holders Morans finished third after beating Red Wailers.

Internationally, Shujaa finished the shorter 2021 World Rugby Sevens Series in position three with 34 points after claiming silver in Vancouver and bronze in Edmonton.

Majority of the core teams skipped the Series which was shortened because of Covid-19 travel restrictions around the world.

Shujaa bagged silver at Vancouver 7s after losing to South Africa 38-5 in the Cup final on September 19 and won bronze in Edmonton after beating Canada 33-14 in the play-off for the third and fourth place.  

Kenya Sevens player “Buffa” Otieno was a show stopper for Shujaa in the World Series where he scored 11 tries in both the Vancouver and Edmonton legs.

He was ranked the top try scorer for Kenya at the Series and fourth overall.

It was not a good outing though for Shujaa at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after they finished in ninth place after beating Ireland 22-0 in the play-off. 

Kenya Sevens captain Andrew Amonde announced his retirement from international rugby after the Olympics.

 

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