Mean Machine win KRU Championship title

University of Nairobi rugby side Mean Machine RFC announced their comeback to the top flight Kenya Cup league in some style as they clinched the second tier Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Championship title on Saturday evening.

On away territory at the Catholic University Grounds, a well-oiled Machine experienced no mechanical problems over the home side Catholic Monks as they recorded a 19-27 victory in the ‘Varsity Derby’ finale to lift the Championship title.

Lifting the trophy and claiming the bragging rights in the derby served as the cherry on top of the cake moment as the most important task of getting promoted to the Kenya Cup league had already been achieved by virtue of just making it to the Championship final where the two participants earned the two tickets.

Machine had achieved that feat of playing in the final by securing a hard fought 14-20 away victory against South Coast Pirates in Ukunda. Monks in turn edged Shamas Foundation 5-9 in the other semifinal to confirm promotion where they replace the relegated Nondescripts and Impala Saracens.

Machine return to the top tier after two seasons of absence. Last season, their dream to make it back to the top tier was cut short after falling to MMUST in Kakamega. Monks return to top flight rugby after suffering relegation back in the 2014-2015 season.

With Machine and Monks making a return to Kenya Cup, the league will now have five Varsity sides with the two joining Kenyatta University's Black Blad, Strathmore Leos and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST).