Rugby in Eldoret poised for revival

Did you know that the first rugby match in Kenya was played in Eldoret in 1909 between the British and Afrikaaner settlers? Well, now you know.

Friday, 26 May 2023, Uasin Gishu County Assembly approved the Budget Ad Hoc Committee report on the conferment of Eldoret to City status. The move paves the way for Eldoret to be elevated to the 5th City in Kenya after Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Kisumu.

It is also a race against time as the City of Champions prepares to host the eighth devolution conference scheduled for August 15-19. The bi-annual event will be staged at the Eldoret Sports Club with more than 10,000 visitors among them state officials expected.

Now, this elevation comes with it the promise of a brighter future for the sports sector, chief among them rugby in the region. Eldoret rugby has had an equal share of ups and downs since the first rugby match was played in 1909.

The town plays host to three rugby clubs; Moi University Arsonists, University of Eldoret Trojans, and Eldoret RFC. The Trojans finished their 2022/23 KRU Championship campaign at position seven with 22 points. The Arsonists play in the nationwide league. This year, they qualified for the semi-final stage but lost 15-11 to JKUAT after a spirited fight.

The City of Champions is also home to former Kenya Cup side Eldoret RFC. The club last played in the top-flight league in 2013 before their nosedive. Eldoret RFC was the vibrance of the town during their heydays when they won the 1947 Enterprise Cup.

According to Moi University Rugby Club, Arsonists RFC Chairman Ali Mbaraka, the varsity clubs are a perfect breeding ground for rugby players and match officials.

“The presence of varsity sides is key in the growth of rugby. The two universities are located far from each other, providing more students with opportunities to play. Not all clubs are based in town and there is only one community club. The boys have ownership of the clubs and they put their best feet forward,” Ali noted.

However, despite the town being a breeding ground for rugby talents, most of them go unutilized due to various challenges, among them a lack of proper goodwill from financiers.

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The financiers, according to Ali, have not fully embraced rugby as a potential marketing avenue. Eldoret is renowned for producing world-class athletes and most corporates would opt for athletics events instead.

“The main challenge is lack of proper goodwill. Corporates have not embraced the sport and most of them are not ready to venture and support the sport. We need funds to ensure more people join the sport,” Ali told Mozzart Sport.

The limited number of tournaments hosted in recent years has also hampered the growth of rugby, restricting exposure for local players. In the past, Eldoret proudly hosted the prestigious Sepetuka 7s, a leg of the National 7s Circuit hosted by Homeboyz RFC. Since the last edition in 2019, however, the rugby scene in Eldoret has somewhat stagnated with only the Chebarbar 7s taking place in July 2022.

Nevertheless, this year, there is renewed excitement among rugby fans as the town gears up to host the second last leg of the 2023 National 7s Circuit, Tisap 7s on September 2 and 3 at the Eldoret Sports Club. This inaugural event promises to inject new energy into the sport and present an avenue for local players to showcase their talents.

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Ali also observed that rugby has been on steady growth over the past decade in Eldoret in various facets. For instance, in match officiating, Eldoret has made commendable steps. Eldoret-based referee Robinson Kiplagat was recently appointed as part of the 2023 U20 Barthes Cup officiating panel.

“There have been positives and negatives. Great improvement in game quality because of more trained coaches. Team management has also improved greatly. Teams are trying to expand. Different people are taking up different roles in clubs unlike in the past where one person is a coach and team manager at the same time,” Ali offered.

As Eldoret prepares to embrace its new city status, the town’s rugby enthusiasts are optimistic that the spirit of rugby will thrive as well as the town’s rich athletic legacy. The stage is set for Eldoret to reclaim its position as a hub of sporting excellence.