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Mombasa-based rugby club organises beach tournament to fund Nationwide season
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 01.11.25. | 13:55
The tournament has attracted 12 teams, with five traveling from Nairobi and seven representing Mombasa
Rugby lovers are in for an action-packed weekend as Mombasa-based Shanzu Marlins Rugby Club hosts the Mombasa Beach Rugby Charity Cup from Saturday, 1 to Sunday, 2 November 2 at Nyali Beach.
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The event aims to raise funds for the club’s participation in the upcoming KRU Nationwide League season while reviving the culture of beach rugby along the Coast after several years of absence.
The tournament has attracted 12 teams, with five traveling from Nairobi and seven representing Mombasa.
Among the visiting sides are Karen Chiefs, Karen Crusaders, Safaricom Kings, Safaricom Queens, and Guns for Hire, while local teams include Shanzu Marlins, Shark Attack, Bamburi Cranes, Mekatilili Wa Menza Shanzu Queens, Likoni Community Rugby, and Sultan.
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Competing teams will pay a registration fee of Ksh30,000, with all proceeds directed towards financing the Marlins’ Nationwide campaign. The funds will help cater to logistics, equipment, and player welfare during the season.
Both men’s and women’s teams will compete, with the tournament designed to accommodate mixed-gender sides under a five-a-side touch rugby format.
Mozzart Sport chatted with Coast Region Rugby Development Officer Leon Lubang’a, who explained that they selected Nyali Beach as the venue due to its easy accessibility, flat terrain, and popularity with the public, ensuring large crowds and maximum visibility for the cause.
“We would like as many people as possible to attend and help the club raise the funds it needs. The ground at Nyali beach is also flat and wide enough, convenient for hosting beach rugby games,” Lubang’a offered.
The event also promises to benefit the local economy, with hotels, vendors, and transport services expected to experience a spike in business thanks to the influx of visiting teams and fans.
“The local community is very supportive of the event, one because we will be bringing them business from the traveling teams, secondly, the Mombasa rugby fraternity has not had beach rugby tournaments along their coastline for many years, so they will be showing up in large numbers to support Shanzu Marlins Rugby Club,” he continued.
Beyond the competition, the weekend will feature music performances, fan engagement sessions by sponsors, and a youth mentorship clinic focused on using sports as a tool to fight drug use and crime, issues that continue to affect young people in the region.
“We would like to invite the general public to continue showing their support by attending our Nationwide League home games, plus they can continue contributing funds to our fundraising campaign on our website, and volunteering services towards the club’s activities. Local businesses can also sponsor the clubs’ activities this season as part of their marketing and CSR,” he offered.
The tournament will be an annual event held in November each year, with organizers eyeing bigger and better editions.
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