Kenya Cup: Kabras, KCB renew rivalry in nerve-wracking final

Rugby fans are gearing up for a nail-biting final as two rivals Kabras RFC and KCB Rugby renew their rivalry on Saturday, 6 April at the ASK Kakamega Showground from 3:00 pm.

This final will mark the 18th meeting between these two sides.

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Kabras' Run

Kabras are coming off an impressive season, where they did not lose a single match. They scored 674 points in the 12 Kenya Cup matches played this season.

The Sugarmen amassed 54 points and 10 bonus points in the regular season. They have only conceded 87 points in 12 matches played this season.

At the same time, the Sugarmen scored a total of 303 points in the previous 17 meetings against KCB.

Regarding numbers, it has been 772 days since Kabras last lost a Kenya Cup match, and 1785 days since they lost a match at the Kakamega Showground.

They have enjoyed 23 consecutive home wins. Their last home loss was on September 4, 2021, when they were defeated 28-25 by KCB at Nandi Bears in the 2021 final.

The Carlos Kyatwa-coached side has hosted the final for five consecutive seasons by finishing top of the log in the regular season and have won in the last two finals.

They will be making the ninth consecutive appearance in the Kenya Cup final since their promotion and have never missed a final.

They have triumphed over KCB once in the Kenya Cup final, securing a memorable victory in 2023 with a scoreline of 19-9 to end a five-match losing streak against the Bankers in the final.

The most recent result between Kabras and KCB in the regular season occurred when they met in Kakamega, with Kabras winning 14-10.

In the event they win this match, they will make history as the fifth Kenya Cup team to manage a three-peat in Kenya Cup history. Only four sides have managed that feat in history: Impala (twice), Kenya Harlequin (twice), Nondies (twice), and KCB Rugby (twice).

KCB Rugby’s run

The Bankers on the other hand concluded the 2023/24 regular season in the second position on the Kenya Cup standings. They suffered two losses to the Menengai Oilers and Kabras RFC.

The Bankers will be hoping to go past Kabras RFC to bag another title and a sixth win over their opponents.

They have appeared in the final seven times in the last 10 years, missing out in 2016 and 2022, with the 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19. This will be their eighth final.

They have emerged victorious 11 times in their 18 meetings with Kabras RFC in the Kenya Cup. One match ended in a draw. That saw them score a total of 402 points in their previous meetings against Kabras.

The Curtis Olago-coached side secured a total of 487 points in the 12 Kenya Cup matches played this season, collecting nine bonus points. They have conceded 135 points this season.

Head-To-Head Record

Saturday 8 Nov 2014: KCB 13-3 Kabras

Saturday 14 March 2015: KCB 27-3 Kabras

Saturday 19 December 2015: KCB 40-15 Kabras

Saturday 3 December 2016: Kabras 15-15 KCB

Saturday 28 January 2017: KCB 22-17 Kabras

Saturday 22 April 2017: KCB 36-8 Kabras

Saturday 24 February 2018: KCB 41-12 Kabras

Saturday 24 March 2018: KCB 29-24 Kabras

Saturday 23 February 2019: KCB 44-20 Kabras

Saturday 18 May 2019: Kabras 15-23 KCB

Saturday 29 Nov 2019: KCB 6-19 Kabras

Saturday 7 August 2021: Kabras 30-23 KCB

Saturday 4 September 2021: Kabras 25-28 KCB

Saturday 26 February 2022: KCB 28-20 Kabras

Saturday 18 February 2023: KCB 23-29 Kabras

Saturday 11 March 2023: Kabras 19-9 KCB

Saturday 9 March 2024: Kabras 14-10 KCB