2023 Beach Rugby kicks off in style

The twelfth edition of the 2023 Beach Rugby kicked off on Friday, 14 July at the Safari Beach Hotel in Diani, Kwale County. Day one came to a close at 10 pm, with teams enjoying the glow of floodlights. The event will be ongoing until Sunday 16 June, 2023.

The showpiece that attracted at least 20 teams filled the shores to the brim, with hundreds of tourists and locals cheering along. Fans were not only treated to breathtaking beach rugby which is its own highlight, but also enjoyed the breathtaking oceanic view.

The annual event hosted by South Coast Pirates is a testimony to the huge strides Kenya is making in the sports tourism industry. South Coast Pirates RFC is the only team competing in the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Championship League. The Kevin Amiani-coached side finished their 2022/23 KRU championship campaign in fourth position.

Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Coach Amiani said that they were aiming at the sky with the twelfth edition already a resounding success.

"This one motivated us to organise more events in the future. This is just day one and it is already lit. We have two more days. I urge people to turn up," the tactician noted.

In addition, the organizers noted that they were foreseeing a future where they would improve the quality of Kenya Rugby. The main aim of the annual event is to raise funds to facilitate the South Coast Pirates Rugby Development Academy, whose aim is to feed the main team. The team has given birth to talents like Kenya Simbas utility player Charles Tendwa.

Michael Owen who hails from the United States told Mozzart Sport that he had the best time of his life. Owen signed up a team with his six friends and was glad to hold the odd-shaped ball for the first time.

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"When I retire, I want to come to Kenya for a long time and do this as many times as possible. This is spectacular," an impressed Owen said.

The event comes at a time when Kenya's popularity in beach games is growing. For instance, in the recently concluded Africa beach games in Hammamet, Tunisia, Kenya handball women's team won silver.

The accomplishment represented a significant improvement from their ninth-place finish in the inaugural edition of the games held in 2019.

Day One collated results

Pool D

Diani Smooth 2-0 Mineral Mavericks

Ocean Ukunda 2-0 mineral mavericks

Likoni men 1-0 Kombani

Kentaste 2-0 Mineral mavericks

Likoni men 3-0 Dicktrile

Kentaste 5-0 Diani Smooth

Dicktrile 2-2 Kombani

Ocean Ukunda 0-2 Likoni Men

Pool C

Safari Beach 1-2 Lesgaloise

NCBA Spartans 7-0 Tiwi Lioness

The Barbour 0-5 Karen Chiefs

Tiwi Lionesses 0-1 Sea Lions

Scallions 0-5 Lesgaloise

The Barbour's 0-2 NCBA Spartans

Tiwi Lionesses 0-4 Safari Beach

Pool B

Les Gauloise 0-1 Mvindeni

Likoni women 0-2 TUM

Shimba Hills 0-1 The Cave

Titan tacklers 1-1 Likoni women

TUM 1-0 Shimla hills

The cave 0-0 Mvindeni

Titan tacklers 0-4 TUM.

Shimba hills 0-1 Les Gauloise.

Pool A

Mvindeni 0-1 Tiwi simbas

Weekend Warriors 0-4 Karen Crusaders

Ball grabbers 0-2 SoFire ent

Weekend Warriors 0-2 Marines

Mvindeni 0-1 SoFire ent.

Marines 0-1 Karen Crusaders

Mvindeni 0-1 Ball grabbers

Karen Crusaders 3-0 Tiwi Simbas