T. NashipaeWhy 2023 Prescott Cup nationals were postponed
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 12.10.23. | 18:29
The Prescott Cup nationals were set to be played from October 12 to 14 at the RFUEA Grounds along Ngong Road
Kenya Rugby Union's development officer Dr. Ochieng Ahaya has shed light on the eleventh hour postponement of the 2023 Prescott Cup nationals. The nationals that were penciled for the RFUEA Grounds from October 12-14 were postponed to an unknown later date.
This year's edition was set to bring together top teams from across the country's regions, with a total of 10 sides expected to grace the occasion. Initially, the three-day championship was supposed to be held at St Mary's Yala, but due to logistical challenges, the teams were forced to play at the RFUEA Grounds. The school games were to serve as a curtain raiser for the much anticipated 2023 Impala Floodlights.
Schools were enroute to the venue, and there was excitement as rugby fans prepared for the mini 'World Rugby U20 Trophy.' But just when the stage was set for the spectacle rugby action, destiny decided to hit pause. The nationals that were penciled for the RFUEA Grounds from October 12-14 were postponed to an unknown later date.
Dr. Ahaya revealed that the unexpected turn of events was attributed to a significant change in the Ministry of Education's examination schedule.
Traditionally, the tournament was held in October, but a shift in the national examination timeline led to a collision between the Prescott Cup and the exam period.
With the academic welfare of the participating students coming first, the only option left was postponing the tournament.
"What happened is that previously, the tournament was held at around this time until recently where there have been many changes taking place in the Ministry of Education with regard to examination, and part of that was not to create disturbance due to the exam period," he started.
"Prescott is basically a student affair, so it was necessary for us to postpone it until the exam period ends. It is for form threes and below, so it had to be pushed forward to when all form threes and below had left, and form fours alone left in school for their national exams. We must fight for a window around that time and see if we can go through with the plans," Dr. Ahaya continued.
Despite that, the former Kakamega High School coach promised bigger and better editions of the Prescott Cup in future, noting that talent development was at the top of their list.
"Now that we are heading to the close of schools, we should not be surprised that more changes will be made, for the betterment of the tournament. The secretariat will sit down, look at all possibilities, then come up with a later date," he concluded.
In Rift Valley, Kabianga High School emerged winners while FEASSSA rugby 7s defending champions Koyonzo High School carried the day in the Western region. Kisii High School who are under the guidance of Astone Lee won in the Nyanza region with St Augustine claiming the top spot in the Eastern region. In Coast, Malindi High School defied the energy-snapping temperatures to emerge victorious. Nairobi and the Central region are set to play their finals this weekend.
Prescott Cup is an inter-school competition inaugurated in 1967, with the sole objective being to develop rugby in Kenya at the age-grade level. The inaugural participants of the tournament were Rift Valley Academy, Nairobi School, and Lenana School.
