All set for 2024 Great Rift 10s

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has released pools for the much-anticipated Great Rift 10s rugby tournament slated for Sunday, 14 April.

The tournament comes a month early this year, having been in May last year.

Defending champions KCB Rugby have been placed in Pool A which sees them tackle Molo RFC, Menengai Oilers II, and NYS Spades.

The Bankers will be hoping to defy the odds and defend their title. They won the 2023 edition after seeing off hosts Nakuru RFC 24-12 in the final. They will also head to Nakuru keen to avenge their Kenya Cup loss in the hands of Kabras RFC.

In Pool B, hosts Nakuru RFC will tackle cross-town neighbors Egerton Wasps, Technical University of Kenya (TUK), and Strathmore Leos.

Nakuru RFC ended the regular Kenya Cup campaign at position seven with 24 points and they will be looking to shine at home. They will also be looking to pick up from where they left off during the 2023 edition to emerge victorious.

Strathmore Leos too will be seeking redemption after failing to sparkle during the Kenya Cup season. They finished in ninth position with only 20 points.

Ashiundu opens up on overcoming injury, to leading the league’s scoring chart

Egerton Wasps and TUK have had a rollercoaster of performances at the lower-tier league and will hope to shine.

Pool C features Menengai Oilers, who return to the competition they last won in 2019 before the event was disrupted by COVID-19. They will face Nandi, Kabarak, and familiar foes Kenya Harlequin. For Quins, this match will provide them with the perfect opportunity to revenge after Oilers defeated them 33-16 during the regular season.

The well-known event returned to the schedule last year after a three-year hiatus and featured six teams.

The Great Rift 10s is a rugby tournament hosted in Nakuru to celebrate Rugby and Kenyan culture. The tournament attracts top teams from the country and includes women and school categories with a lineup of activities.

In the past years, about 40 teams took part in the tournament which was divided into two divisions.

Great Rift 10s aside pools

Pool A: KCB Rugby, Molo, Menegai Oilers II, NYS Spades,

Pool B: Nakuru RFC, Egerton, TUK, Strathmore Leos,

Pool C: Menengai Oilers, Nandi, Kabarak, Kenya Harlequin

Order of Play:

Game 1 Molo vs Menengai Oilers II 8.00 am – 8.25 am

Game 2 KCB Rugby vs NYS Spades 8.25 am – 8.50 am

Game 3 Egerton Uni Wasps vs Technical University 8.50 am – 9.15 am

Game 4 Nakuru RFC vs Strathmore Leos 9.15 am – 9.40 am

Game 5 Kabarak University vs Kenya Harlequin 9.40 am – 10.05 am

Game 6 Menengai Oilers vs Nandi 10.05 am – 10.30 am

Game 7 NYS Spades vs Menengai Oilers II 10.40 am – 11.05 am

Game 8 Molo vs KCB Rugby 11.05 am – 11.30 am

Game 9 Egerton Uni Wasps vs Nakuru RFC 11.30 am – 11.55 am

Game 10 Technical University vs Strathmore Leos 11.55 am – 12.20 pm

Game 11 Kabarak University vs Menengai Oilers 12.20 pm – 12.45 pm

Game 12 Nandi vs Kenya Harlequin 12.45 pm – 1.10 pm

Game 13 NYS Spades vs Molo 1.20 pm – 1.45 pm

Game 14 Menengai Oilers II vs KCB 1.45 pm – 2.10 pm

Game 15 Nakuru RFC vs Technical University 2.10 pm – 2.35 pm

Game 16 Egerton Uni Wasps vs Strathmore Leos 2.35 pm – 3.00 pm

Game 17 Nandi vs Kabarak University 3.00 pm – 3.25 pm

Game 18 Kenya Harlequin vs Menengai Oilers 3.25 pm – 3.50 pm

Game 19 Semi 1 (Pool A Winner vs Best Loser) 4.00 pm – 4.25 pm

Game 20 Semi 2 (Pool B Winner vs Pool C Winner) 4.25 pm – 4.50 pm

Game 21 Bronze Match (Loser Game 19 vs Loser Game 20) 5.00 pm – 5.25 pm

Game 22 Final (Winner Game 19 vs Winner Game 20) 5.25 pm – 5.50 pm