Christie 7s: All you need to know ahead of second season outing

After two years of not taking place in 2020 and 2021 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the National Sevens Circuit finally made its comeback in the country last weekend with the George Mwangi Kabeberi 7s acting as the season opener for the six legged Series.

This weekend, 28-29 May 2022, the second outing of the season, Christie 7s, takes place at the RFUEA Grounds where it is being hosted by Kenya Cup side Kenya Harlequin. Here is everything you need to know about the tournament.

About Christie 7s

The tournament is named in honour of Alex ‘Sandy’ Milne Christie, a Kenya Harlequins President, veteran rugby player and referee for Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, Kampala, Uganda, Mombasa. He also served as President of the RFUEA and Vice-President of Wasps RFC in England.

Having begun in 1962, the Christie 7s is Kenya’s oldest club sevens tournament. It was incorporated into the National Sevens Circuit in 1999.

This tournament has been played every year since 1962 with the exception of 2020 and 2021 when sporting activities were affected by COVID-19. Details about winners in ’62 and ’63 however remain very scanty.

The 2022 edition is set to mark the 55th edition of the tournament.

Number of Teams Participating and Pools

16 teams are set to take part in the tournament in both Division 1 and 2 with pools divided into four teams each.

Overall 7s defending champions headline the action having lifted the season opening Kabeberi 7s. The Bankers are also the defending Christie 7s champions having beaten Nakuru 12-7 in the 2019 final. They are apparently in Pol A with Nakuru, hosts Quins and South Coast Pirates (Jumia Pay).

Christie Sevens Div 1 Pools

Pool A: KCB, Topfry Nakuru, Kenya Harlequin, JumiaPay Pirates

Pool B: Strathmore Leos, Daystar Falcons, Blak Blad, Impala

Pool C: Menengai Oilers, Masinde Muliro, Kabras Sugar, Nondescripts

Pool D: Homeboyz, Mwamba, Western Bulls, Catholic Monks

Holders KCB land hosts Harlequin in Christie 7s

Christie Sevens Div 2 Pools

Pool A: Stallions , Molo, Ngong, Kabarak

Pool B: Northern Suburbs, Embu, Busia Borderrucks, Kisumu

Pool C: Makueni, KCA, JKUAT, Stingers

Pool D: AP Warriors, Dagoretti Bulldogs, TUK Mustangs, Comras

Pool E: Shamas, MKU Nairobi, Stormers, Kiambu

Pool F: Zetech Oaks, USIU Martials, Masaku, Kenya Prisons

Christie 7s Previous Winners

1964 Kenya Police and Eldoret RFC

1965 Eldoret RFC

1966 Impala

1967 Nondescripts

1968 Impala

1969 Nondescripts

1970 Impala

1971 Impala

1972 Impala

1973 Nondescripts

1974 Nondescripts

1975 Nondescripts

1976 Nondescripts

1977 Mean Machine

1978 Mwamba

1979 Mwamba

1980 Mean Machine

1981 Kenya Harlequin

1982 Kenya Harlequin

1983 Mwamba

1984 Mean Machine

1985 Mwamba

1986 Kenya Harlequin

1987 Barclays

1988 Mean Machine

1989 Barclays

1990 Mean Machine

1991 Barclays

1992 KCB

1993 Mean Machine

1994 Barclays

1995 Mean Machine

1996 Mean Machine

1997 Kenya Harlequin

1998 Impala

1999 Impala

2000 Nakuru

2001 Ulinzi

2002 Ulinzi

2003 Kenya Harlequin

2004 KCB

2005 Mwamba

2006 Mwamba

2007 Kenya Harlequin

2008 KCB

2009 Kenya Harlequin

2010 Kenya Harlequin

2011 KCB

2012 Kenya Harlequin

2013 KCB

2014 Mwamba

2015 Kenya Harlequin

2016 Kabras Sugar

2017 Kabras Sugar

2018 Homeboyz

2019 KCB

2020 Not Played due to Covid 19

2021 Not Played due to Covid 19

Additional reporting by Kenya Rugby Union.