2023 Blackrock Rugby Festival inspires organizers to achieve more

The 2023 edition of St. Mary’s Blackrock Festival happened at the traditional St. Mary’s School on Saturday, June 3. With a larger team turnout and large crowds, this year’s edition of the oldest high school tournament left fans wanting more.

The event attracted a total of 21 teams, with Rosslyn School narrowly edging Rift Valley Academy 12-10 in the finals to clinch the title. To qualify for the semifinal stage, Rosslyn had to see off Kitondo 12-7, with RVA managing a resounding 12-0 win over All Saints in the second cup final.

Ofafa Jericho II won the plate competition with a 17-0 victory over All Saints II, while Upper Hill II was crowned bowl winner after defeating RVA II 19-7.

As the dust settles on a successful outing, Mozzart Sport caught up with Blackrock Festival tournament coordinator Gregory Sang, who noted that they left no stone unturned in organizing every aspect to make the event a resounding success.

Sang was pleased that this year’s edition attracted around 21 teams, an improvement from last year, when they had only 12. In addition, there was a girls’ exhibition involving five teams, and the ground was bigger than the previous years.

Going forward, Greg foresees a future where the festival will extend to other categories like U10, U15, and a veteran’s category.

"We are aiming to have four categories: U19, Girls category as time goes by, U15, and maybe in the future to host an Old Boys Tournament, which will be played by people that have been part of the schools that have been part of the Blackrock Festival; we will have boys from Nairobi, Lenana, Alliance, and other schools. Those boys will form teams and play in the Old Boys category in Blackrock. It will help in networking," Greg told Mozzart Sport.

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In the past, the event involved Ellins Robin House, a high school team from Zimbabwe, and St. Hannah from Uganda. Greg disclosed that they aim to bring back the glory.

"We aim at involving teams from beyond the country. We are in the process of talking to a school in Ireland. We hope to meet with them in the coming month and then look at the possibility of them coming. In 2020, there was a school from Europe that wanted to come, but it was impossible due to the COVID-19 restrictions," he noted.

This tournament has seen the birth of talents since its first edition in 1983, with the Most Valuable Players achieving remarkable feats in the sport.

Among the most notable products of this tournament are former Kenya Simbas Head Coach Paul Odera, Philip Wokorach, and former Kenya 7s and 15s captain Innocent Simiyu.

Blackrock Rugby Festival Results

Cup final: RVA 10-12 Rosslyn

Plate final: Ofafa Jericho II 17-0 All Saints II

Bowl final: Upper Hill II 19-7 RVA II

Cup Semifinal

Rosslyn 12-7 Kitondo

RVA 12-0 All Saints

Cup quarterfinal

All Saints 21-5 Dagoretti

Strathmore I 5-21 Kitondo

Strathmore II 0-5 Rosslyn

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